NatCom Turney, Mitchell, NEWS OK'd

By Bill Evers off-budget, thus "sidestepping" the NatCom's The Libertarian National Committee, at its own debt-reduction requirements. Overhead November 22-23 meeting in Los Angeles, charge supporters also said that it is difficult to confirmed National Chair Jim Turney's nomi­ raise money directly to support headquarters nation of Terry von Mitchell as national direc­ overhead, and if most "glamorous projects" tor, adopted a $263,000 budget, and appointed were farmed out to self-funding subcommittees, half the members of the 1987 national plat­ then headquarters would starve. form committee. Those opposing an overhead charge said it The Committee declined to adopt a proposal would cripple decentralized initiative and did to add an overhead charge when billing its self­ not reflect real overhead burdens imposed by funded subcommittees. It also heard but did the subcommittees, but was instead an un­ not adopt the recommendation of NatCom warranted cross-subsidization. Franzi suggested member Dale Hemming that a thorough house­ that an overhead charge would appear to cleaning was needed in the Houston head­ donors as a subsidization of a pattern of going quarters staff, in LP NEWS, and in the post of into debt. national chair. . Hemming at several points during the meeting The appointment of Mitchell gave Tumey a said that action needed to be taken to replace national director who was directly Turney's the Party's current top management. He own choice. The previous national director, questioned the appropriateness of appointing Perry Willis, had been appointed by immediate Mitchell, saying that there were financial and past chair Randy VerHagen. Willis continued membership problems during Mitchell's tenure into Turney's term, but had to resign when as acting director. He said that certain material chronic illness prevented him from working full published in LP NEWS constituted a breach of time. The motion to confirm Mitchell was contract by the subcontractor and proposed supported in a vigorous speech by Emil Franzi, that if "any further breaches" occurred, the who argued that a chairperson oughtbasically subcontractor be sued for damages. be· able to "pick his own director." This, He also proposed that the NatCom call for according to Franzi, meant a better working Terry von Mitchell, newly confirmed national the national chair's resignation on the ground relationship between chair and director and director. · that the chair had not effectively dealt with the allowed the Party membership and theN ational Party's financial, membership, and debt prob~ Committee to "hold the chair responsible" for from donors in orderto reach the $6,000 per !ems and had not heeded the NatCom's policy the director's performance. month that is needed to pay for getting the 1988 directives on what was to be done. Hemming's The budget adopted by the NatCom was national ticket on the ballot in all· 50 states. proposals did not receive support from the drafted and proposed by Tumey and was based National Secretary Dean Ahmad proposed Committee. Committee members stated in on work done some weeks earlier by the budget that a 10 percent overhead charge be added by private conversations and in debate that the subcommittee. The adopted budget assumes national headquarters when billing all self­ new realistic budget, discussions between the conservatively that 1987 revenues will be like funded subcommittees for items. The wording editor and the national chair on LP NEWS 1986 revenues. National Treasurer Sam Trey­ of the resolution and the subsequent debate left editorial policy, and new membership and nor, Vice Chair Sharon Ayres, and former it unclear whether the effect of the measure was fundraising efforts are the best ways to tackle treasurer David Walter had been contending to add an overhead charge only to bills that the problems cited by Hemming. for many months that fiscally conservative subcommittees paid to the national headquar­ The NatCom appointed 1984 presidential assumptions of this sort were necessary if the ters, or to collect an overhead on all spending nominee David Bergland as temporary chair of Party wanted to have a "realistic budget.·· by self-funded subcommittees. the platform committee for the Seattle presi­ Other notable features of the budget were a Those favoring an overhead charge said it dential-nominating convention. It selected Lew reduction in spending on LP NEWS (while made good business sense and reflected real Rockwell, Paul Jacob, Robert Poole, Murray still preserving its frequent appearance) and a overhead burdens imposed by the subcom­ Rothbard, Joe Cobb, Kathleen Richman, Larry small allocation for seeking new members and mittees. Ahmad contended that self-funded Dodge, Dale Pratt, and Peter Breggin to serve donors. The need to seek new members and committees were a mechanism that places "an on the committee. Additional members are to donors was the central feature of a well­ increasing portion" of the national LP's funds be selected by the I 0 largest state parties. prepared finance report by Sharon Ayres. The NatCom also adopted an incentive program, proposed by David Walter, that will reward the New Hampshire Poll Taken headquarters staff if more money is raised than is assumed in current budget projections. The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire on victimless crimes such as gambling. Another wett~prepared- report. was-- that of recently completed a survey of 1,000 citizens • To solve the prison overcrowding problem, ballot-access chair Stephen Fielder. He ex­ in the state. The survey was performed by 37 percent say more money should be spent on plained the effects of the November 1986 Public Opinion of New Hampshire (based in crime prevention; 25 percent want private election. He reported on the success of the Concord). Survey results may be of interest to companies to build and tun the prisons; 16 Texas ballot drive, which was completed by both the voter and the political establishment: percent say the state should build more prisons; the state party on its own. The LP has, • 52 percent of those responding want lower and 13 percent want NH to spend more money however, lost ballot status in Idaho. Fielder property taxes, compared to 41 percent who on rehabilitation. explained that the ballot-access subcommittee are satisfied with the tax rate as it stands. (The • When questioned about the maximum speed did not learn about the problems in Idaho until rest want higher taxes or have no opinion.) limit of 55 mph in the state, 56 percent favor it was too late. • 50 percent favor privately funded kinder­ either raising the speed limit or letting highway Fielder reported that his subcommittee had gartens, or want a mix of public and private engineers (not politicians) decide what the detailed projections of the costs of each state kindergartens; 48 percent favor standard tax­ safest speed limit is. ballot drive. He was optimistic about the financed kindergartens. • 76 percent say the sale of second-hand fundraising situation. But he noted that the • 98 percent of the ·responses say law en­ goods, such as jewelry and stereos, should not ballot-access effort needed additional support forcement should not concentrate its funding be regulated by the state. 2 January/February 1987 Libertarian Party NEWS ~. ..("~ -...- ~"" ,.; ...... : ,· . .l.. NEWS Letters. to the Editor _.;. .. ;"'' Ron: Yes for "a legitimate function of government"). If to, I adequately cover the Libertarian idea of Guidelines It certainly isn't too early for Libertarians to he'd prostitute his ideals for that, who knows self-ownership. More importantly, I have an Here are some guidelines for gathering news consider who to run in the presidential sweep­ what would be next? His 1984 campaign for audience to speak to. It is well enough to have a stakes. Already the statists have lined up the federal Senate certainly wasn't hard-core; great philosophy; but unless one has an audi­ for the Libertarian Party NEWS. They are calling for big government. At this time the why would anyone think he'd be more prin­ ence, the number of the philosophy's adherents offered in hope of inspiring more people to send leading contenders are Mario Cuomo, George <;ipled running for a higher office? will diminish in a short-time. more and also better news for sharing with Bush, Pat Robertson, and Pierre DuPont-not Ron Paul did some good in Congress, and he Most recently, I was invited to speak at. other libertarians. one of them an advocate of anything remotely . should be thanked for that. He has the ability to Princeton University, at the Fall Forum on If you send clippings, be sure they are dated resembling freedom. present libertarian stands to conservatives in a Pornography. I was well received, and I was and the source is clearly stated. A note giving What is fascinating is that all these candi­ way· that appeals to them, and he should be taken as seriously as any of the distinguished your .impression of why th,e clipping should dates (except for Robertson) are from the pro­ congratulated on that. But we don't need to guests. . interest other libertarians would be helpful. The situation covered in the clipping may not State middle of the political spec~ and will lower ourselves to the level of the subsidized I appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show two be unacceptable to large numbers of liberals parties. by nominating someone who's that days after the election, and one week later I be clear to someone totally unfamiliar with it. All state and local newsletters. are welcome and conservatives. This means that large num­ quick to sell his soul for votes. appeared on the Joan Rivers Show. I have been and the editors of the Libertarian Party NEWS bers of people who are pro-free market or pro­ invited back as a possible regularly-appearing hope that every single libertarian editor will peace/civil liberties are left out in the cold. The Jeff Daiell guest on Joan's show. send a copy of their product regularly to us. But Robertson campaign should die out rather Houston, TX I am planning to get on the college lecture newsletter coverage also may assume famil­ quickly at the GOP convention and not even circuit, as soon as I finish my book (Spring God will be interested in resurrecting it. Ex­ Ron: Yes 1-987). When I am on the circuit, I would like iarity which, it is best to assume, we do .not have. Please, if there's an item that you want to pect no miracles from the Robertson camp. A Ron Paul campaign could bring back for very much to be able to address Libertarian suggest for publication in the NEWS but that This leaves Libertarians with the opportunity us the visibility and momentum we lost Supper Clubs or other Libertarian meetings in could be subject to misinterpretation or that of a lifetime-a dream ticket combining the between 1980 and 1984 and are just now very the areas where I lecture. If any of the local requires some background knowledge to.make concerns of so many voters. We will be able to slowly regaining. Libertarian chairpersons would like me to reach the large number of conservative voters Television is expensive but it's essential if it clear, add a note supplying pertinent facts speak to their group, I'd appreciate hearing and background. · unimpressed with Bush and the large number we are to reach people. Running ads only on from them as soon as possible, so that I can 'If you want to talk. over a story by phone but of voters unimpressed with the mediocrities of cable and then only very late in the campaign in plan my schedule for 1987. don't want to spend money for a long distance the Democratic Party. The dream ticket should 1984, we ended up with less than 250,000 For those of you who tried· to reach my call, just drop us a postcard about the situation reflect both the so-called "conservative" and votes. Reaching people is the whole ballganie. campaign headquarters to get posters, lam still and we'll contact you for that discussion. (We "liberal" wings of the Libertarian Party. I Ron Paul can raise the money to do it. · selling them. Soon, I hope to have them in probably have a cheaper long distance service· suggest a Ron Paul/Earl Ravenal ticket or Whatwould cause Paul not to run? The fear poster stores near you, or you can still order than you do.) perhaps an Earl Ravenal/Ron Paul ticket. that there will be more of the factionalism and them from me. If there is anyone interested in a Sometimes a short but significant story on Either one would be acceptable to me. childish egoism that cause the Party to focus distributorship for your area, please contact something you or a local group is doing can What are the advantages of this ticket? First, inwardly at the expense of outreach and growth, me. I'll make you such a deal!!! For anyone both candidates have impressive credentials in that sapped the strength of many an activist, who wants to be on my mailing list to be best be summed up in a letter to the editor. That section of the paper is well read and is a prime the so-called "real" world, both. are liber­ and that led to a full-fledged split in the Party at notified when my book comes out (Cop to vehicle for libertarian communications. tarians, and both have supporters outside the the 1984 convention. I'm not suggesting that Callgirl), please write me and send me your Ifypu can possibly send typewritten material movement. Paul, with his emphasis on the free fierce arglllilent and discussion should stop or address. rather than .handwritten, our weary eyes would market, has a wide following in conservative lessen even a single degree, but we cannot My address is: Norma Jean Almodovar, deeply appreciate it. If it's double-spaced, our circles while Ravena!, with his emphasis on afford to become a debating society-especially 1626 N. Wilcox Ave. #580, Hollywood, CA typesetter will appreciate it even more. Sheer non-intervention, is highly regarded in liberal an unfriendly one. 90028 or call 213-382-6445. circles. At my 1985 trial in Little Rock, Arkansas, physicallimita.tions make handwritten material hard to get to and to- get through. More importantly, this ticket may help heal for haVing refused to register for the draft, Dr. Norma Jean Almodovar Be on the alert, particularly, for information the painful split in libertarian ranks. Paul is Paul had this to say: " ... the State is massive ... Hollywood, CA . surely acceptable to the large number of Lilr the State is now encroaching on our personal that will help other Libertarian Party members ertarians who supported Bergland and I'm sure liberties, it's encroaching throughout the world in their practical political work-reports of Ravenal is still acceptable to those of us who on a daily basis ... and also in the economy. I Gambling successful campaigns, analyses offailed ones, supported him at the last nominating convention. think the State itself is a threat to us. It's a I must take issue with Andre Marrou's for instance. threat to the individual liberties, not only of unqualifiea assertion that "Libertarians are in . Running debates on policies and practices Jim Peron Paul Jacob, but of every single solitary person favor oflegalized gambling." It appears to this inside the Libertarian Party often may be San Francisco, CA in this country. " Ron Paul was there to testify Libertarian that gambling is in opposition to handled by letters to the editor but there may be when I needed him; he'll be there in 1988 the libertarian ideal of voluntary exchange of times when issues such as this become major because the cause of liberty needs him. value for value, since no consideration is and demanding oflarger debate. At such times, Ron: No rendered for the profit or glun received. Thus, I we will try to present substantial opposing Ron Paul for the LP nomination for Presi­ Paul Jacob believe that gambling should not enjoy the views so that libertarians may make up their dent? Ron· Paul has already demonstrated a Springfield, VA sanction oflegality, but rather should be denied own niinds. If there are issues that you feel willingness to sell out for votes-hardly the legal recognition and be treated as purely merit such debate, .suggestions of both topic. type LPers should nominate as the candidate. Norma Jean voluntary gift-giving, without penalty or en­ and of persons able to represent the various .of"The Party of Principle." While in Congress, ·Now that the election is over, do I intend to forcement of payment, since no payment nor views would be appreciated . a big pork-barrel harbor project in Paul's disappear from the political scene? Absolutely obligation exists. Rumor clarification is another area of interest district was proposed. When it looked like not. I was politically active before the cam­ to the editors. If you know of a rumor that is opposing it, or even waffling on the subject, paign as a prostitutes' rights .activist, and I will Scott H. Bergeson proving irritating or destructive to libertarian might cost him the election, Ron Paul endorsed continue to do so. I think that in speaking to Vice Chairman, DLP activity, please let us know. We'll try to track it heartily (since the boondoggl.e was unrelated audiences about the right to engage in any type Wilmington, DE down the facts. If you already know the facts, we'd like to hear about that as well. to defense, he hasn't the excuse about it being of consensual adult behavior that one wishes Continue·d on Page 5 And, always remember, one of our favorite injunctions is to "question authority." We want that to apply to the Libertarian Party ·********************************* NEWS and to the Libertarian Party leader­ ship as well as to any other persons, places, or ·:t . LIBERTARIAN PARTY MEMBERSHIP . ~ things. If there is something you want to know about your Libertarian Party or your news­ it 0 $15 Basic 0 $40 Sponsor . 0 $100 Patron 0 $250 Assodate Life 0 $1000 Life Benefactor it paper, feel free to ask. We will answer . .-iC MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES SUBSCRIPTION TO LP NEWS! D New Member iC i' ~ "I h.er.eby certify that I do not believe In or advocate the Initiation of .force as a iC DEFEND YOURSELF ~ ' means of achieving political or social goals." O . . D Renewal ~ AGAINST GOVERNMENT HARASSMENT: ~ J • Payment Enclosed ~ CALL THE RADAR DETECTOR ARMORY ~ j . ~ Signature: ·' 0 Bill My Ill! i' it Bel Vector micro •••.•.••.• $165 ·. ~ .· ';) ')j~~ PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY . 0 Bill My ~ t Bel XKR-7 Express •.•..••.. $185 ~ . 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By Gene Berkman sets, it take~ away your right to privacy. If the repressive governments in Asia and Latin through widespread drug-testing. Libertarians advocate maximum personal Internal Revenue Service thinks you did not America has made the U.S. government an To stop drugs from being imported into the freedom, and the goal of the Libertarian Party pay enough and takes you to tax court, you ene,my of freedom in inany countries. American United States, the government has increased is a social environment conducive to maxi­ have fewer rights than a murderer or a rapist. aid to Israel has brought the United States military aid to Bolivia and other repressive mizing freedom. In considering any political Taxes are a civil liberties issue as well as an close to. war on severai occasions. · governments, and made threats against Co­ issue, the Libertarian takes the side of greater economic issue. Foreign aid is paid for with coerced tax lombia and Jamaica. The drug crisis, once an freedom and less government power. The dollars, and therefore is a violation of your excuse to limit civil and economic liberty in American Libertarian advocates non-inter­ The Draft economic rights.· If you are philosophically this country, is now a foreign policy question. vention by the government into the personal The draft is a tax, taken in the form of opposed to repressive government, foreign aid In The Federalist Papers, James Madison life or business activities of individual Ameri­ compulsory labor rather than money. If you can violate ·your freedom of conscience. When warned that for the would-be tyrant, "there is cans, and non-intervention by the U.S. gov­ are drafted, you lose several years of your life. a repressive government or a government at always a crisis" which he would use to enh11:fice ernment into the. affairs of other nations. This You could have used those lost years to get an v.rar kills innocent people with weapons pro- . his own powers. The real crisis is that our ~~:dvocacy is summed up in the Libertarian education, develop· your career, or just earn vided by the U.S. government, you have been politician·s are addicted to power. Their pro­ Triad: personal liberty, economic freedom, wages. If you die in war, you pay what is called made an accessory to murder againstyour will. grams give them a feeling of euphoria, but do and international peace. -''the ultimate price." While in the military, you Clearly, foreign aid is a question of conscience, not solve our problems. I The desire for freedom is deeply ingrained in lose most of the personal freedoms you take for as well as a question of economics and foreign Libertarians are for freedom. So are many the American people. Even the politicians who granted as a .civilian. The Democrats and policy. conservatives and many liberals, up to a point. have limited or abolished one freedom ~ifter Republicans who propose to bring back the Conservatives want a government big enough another have defended their actions as neces­ draft are a threat to your civilliberties and to Drug Laws to enforce morality, but small enough to leave sary to protect our free society. In recent years, ·your financial livelihood. Draft registration, Drug laws restrict the right to produce, sell, their business alone. Liberals want a market­ voters have supported Republican candidates like an income tax form, violates your right to possess, and consume cert~in products. They place of ideas, bur are afraid of the economic in the hope of real cuts in the size and cost of privacy. Righrnow, if you are a young man, are first and foremost restrictions on free marketplace. The Libertarian viewpoint is that government. What they have gotten is a com­ you can go to prison for failing to tell the enterprise. Certain drugs, such as alcohol and economic and social freedoms are intimately mitment by Ronald Reagan to" slow the rate of government where you live. tobacco, are regulated in a more lenient man­ related to each other, .and that freedom and increase" of taxes and government spending. The draft is also a foreign policy issue. The ner; users of marijuana and other drugs are peace are· short-lived if separated from each President Reagan's inability to achieve even primary duty of the United States government therefore denied the equitl protection of the other. this modest goal has led some voters to support in foreign policy is to keep this country out of laws guaranteed under the Constitution. Since the Libertarian Party. Others have been un­ war. The power to draft gives the government almost all use and all purchases of drugs· are Berkman is proprietor of· Renaissance willing to go along with the total commitment the power to involve this country in a war voluntary, police often resort to questionable Books, P.O. Box 2451, Riverside, CA 92516. to freedom so central to libertarianism. Before without convincing those who will have to and dishonest means to arrest drug users and you decide to support the Libertarian Party, a fight. An end to draft registration, and a sellers. brief examination of several issues might show permanent prohibition of the military draft, The effect of these restrictions on free Spiit Infinitive the relationship of civil and economic liberty will effectively limit the government's power to enterprise and civil liberties has been to enrich ·and peaceful foreign policy. Consider taxation, get us into war. organized crime and to punish millions of To be just the draft, foreign aid, and drug laws. ordinary people because of their personal or Foreign Aid habits. After 50 years of marijuana prohibition To just be Taxes Foreign aid is one of the main foreign policy and more than 70 years oflaws against cocaine Is not just When the government forces you to pay tools of the U.S. government. Foreign aid to and heroin, the politicians tell us we are deep in A matter taxes, it commits an economic· crime: theft. the government of France and then to South a drug crisis. To deal with the crisis, President Ofposition When the government forces you to provide it Vietnam preceded and led to direct American Reagan proposes to further limit the freedom of with information about your income and as- involvement in the Vietnam War. Aid to Americans, and to attack their personal dignity -Chris Brock~nan

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Freedom Conference, from the editor of the William Rehnquist is "big government's best debt-the legal costs of a ballot access chal­ libertarian "Free Marin" newsletter, Dan friend," reminds readers that "he has been a lenge-by selling off a state secret. Alice Gleanings Dougherty: "I found this conference blessedly conservative statist at least since 195 2 when he Montestruc's Louisiana Liberty Jambalaya free from the minarchist-anarehist debate. wrote that ' .. .in the long run it is the mlijority recipe ("guaranteed to set your taste buds Maryland LP's state convention produced Humility was the common thread of many who will determine what the constitutional free") is being offered for a dollar (or more) an excellent set of member-contributed guide­ presentations and there seems to be a growing rights of the minority are.' " Tellingly, the contribution, plus a SASE, to Libertarian lines for party action. Top seven were: "Better acceptance and encouragement of pluralism in writer adds that, "Already Rehnquist has Party of Louisiana, P.O. Box 66301, Baton relate our philosophical approach to issues. the movement with a genuine respect for each fostered disillusionment among the libertarians, Rouge, LA 70896. Show concrete applications of principles. Get individual and group doing what's comfortable." conservatism's mine canaries, who are often *** people to understand the difference between *** the first to sniff the fumes of an impending Arizona Libertarian Party members regis~ special interests and the general interest. Give Libertarian Student Network's tabloid pub- ideolqgical cave-in." · tered 40 new members at the state fair, and got simple (uncomplicated) explanations of our lication, Young Libertarian, is now being *** 370 ballot access petitions at the same time. principles. Some positive action is better than distributed for the 1987 school year. Included Anyone looking for a model approach to *** no action at all. Relate our issues to the issues are articles on Ron Paul, Paul Jacob, Norma presenting a bill of particulars for local govern­ Party memberships at the state or local or of others. Market ideas to meet the needs of Jean Almodovar, the American revolutionary mental expense cutting should be interested in national level often expire this time of year. others instead of being too esoteric.'' tradition, and Jimmy Stevens, a native liber­ the free-market-oriented Heartland Institute's Check yours. Renew memberships as prompdy tarian leader in the New Hebrides. Paper's 92-page analysis of budget cuts for Chicago. If as you can. And don't forget that membership California's Liberty*** Bell electronic bulletin address is P.O. Box 64, Trenton, MI 48183. you ask for a copy, it would be appreciated if in the national LP is entirely separate from board system is now operating 24 hours a day, *** you'd accompany the request with a tax exempt membership in a state or local party. Check seven days a week. The bulletin board, which is North Carolina's lively libertarians have contribution. Address: 55 East Monroe, Suite your local libertarians. Do what you can. to for all libertarians to use in swapping info and come up with a new award for old-party 4316, Chicago, IL 60603. involve yourself in the support of local liberty keeping in touch, is accessed through the politicians: membership in an annual dirty as well as the national effort. FIDO-NET system. The FIDO-NET address dozen "for the 12 most harmful and/or least Poor IRS, The agency*** is begging for more is 143/6 and the phone number is 408-947- sensible actions, statements or proposals." money to track down uncollected federal taxes New Jersey LP ***has embarked on a major 1776. Access is free and is available to 300, Winner of an honorary doctorate in revisionist which, last year, increased by $45 billion, fundraising effort, calling on as many volun­ 1200, or 2400 baud. The communications history and constitutional law was Senator bringing the official, and probably low, esti­ teers as possible, plus paying up to five percent parameters are eight bit, no parity, and one Jesse Helms for his defense of Chilean dictator mate of total tax. resistance to about $150 commission, plus expenses such as toll calls, stop bit The only time the board isn't available Augusto Pinochet's imposition of martial law: billion-a major world economy all by itself. In for people who want to do it professionally. to outside callers is between 12:30 and 2:30 "A lot of people ... are not aware [that our addition, the IRS is worried about the increasing *** a.m. PST, during which time the board handles constitution] provides martiallaw... I fear that number of physical attacks against its agents. The third edition of former presidential communications with other FIDO-NET bul­ [communist] terrorism will come to this country Finally, the agency reports that there are pow candidate Dave Bergland's Libertarianism in letin boards. Donations to help. support the on a large scale •.. jn which case you will see 54,000 Americans who are officially known to One Lesson is now available with an eye­ board may be made payable to the Libertarian martial law and whatever is necessary to quell the IRS as tax protestors. catching new cover. Con tact the national office Party "Liberty Bell" project and sent to 401 that sort of thing. Whatever is necessary to regarding copies. East Taylor Street, San Jose, CA 95112. keep the United States free of communism, I'd Currently circulating issue of New Liber- be willing to do." tarian is jam-packed with revisionist history Strong addition ***to intra-party communica- Sharp comment ***in the New Mexico LP's articles including an···* analysis of the costofU.S. tions is being made by Bruce A. Daniel, newsletter, commenting on a dispute between Mobil Oil Company,*** publicly advertising interventionism in the Middle East by LP's chairman of the Placer County, CA, Liber­ two old-party pols each claiming to have built a on behalf of a consumption tax, uses as one of national secretary Dean Ahmad. Publication tarian Party. He's sending a "chair to chair" local vo-tech school: "The Libertarians will its arguments the observation ·that the tax is available (five issues for $15 in gold, $17.50 newslette_r to other state and local chairs, not take sides on this issue. However, if-either "would capture some of the money that now in currency) from the New Libertarian Com­ telling what he's up to, encouraging others to [politician] can produce a photograph of them­ goes unreported and untaxed. Participants in pany of Free Traders, 1515 West MacArthur share the same sort of info. His address: P.O. selves laying so much as one brick or driving the huge and growing underground economy, Blvd., #19, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Box 165, Loomis, CA 95650. one nail, that should settle the dispute-or who currently do business on a cash basis ... *** *** bring a lawsuit from the local carpenters' . would llav~ t() pay the tax as they make The Washington Libertarian, newsletter of From the Southern Libertarian Messenger: union." purchases." the state party there, warns "against associa­ A Dutchman explained the symbolism of the . *** tions with ... rightist fringe organizations which red, white, and blue in the Netherlands flag to Cato Institute's excellent*** 1987 publications Another student libertarian group is forming may share superficially similar political posi­ an American. He said, "Our flag is symbolic of catalog is now available from the group at 224 · at the University ofWashington. Organized by tions with libertarians. The non-violent right our taxes-we get ·red when We talk about Second St., SE, Washington, DC 20003. economics major Greg Cancelada, and called wing groups consist of the Constitutionalists, them, white when we get the bill, and blue after the Libertarian Discussion Group, it can be the Populist Party, the Duck Club, the Ameri­ we pay them." The American replied, "It's like Kansas LP newsletter,*** The Free Kansan; addressed at FK-30/Box 176, University of can Freeman Association, and others. Naive that in the USA too, only we also see stars." cites research by R.J. Rummel, in Wall Street Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. libertarians may not realize the close ties of *** Journal, saying that governments of all kinds these patriot groups to their more violent and An ambitious, four-part. recruiting and out- have killed 199 million people in the 20th Washington Post*** columnist Meg Green- openly racist ideological neighbors such as the reach program is underway by Metro Detroit Century. And that's not including war, another field, commenting on her trip to China and the Aryan Nations and The Order... The Populists Libertarian Party members. Larry Ludlow government activity that killed an additional difficulty of knowing how far pro-freedom want to abolish the federal reserve. bank­ and Keith Edwards are setting up a ''Principles 35.7 million people. reforms can go: "The only indisputable fact is because they view it as a private bank under the of Liberty" course and a speakers bureau. that the heresy about Third World _countries control of an international Jewish/Communist Virginia Cropsey is keeping track of all liber­ University of Cincinnati*** libertarians have needing more; not less, freedom to prosper may conspiracy. The Constitutionalists oppose the tarian activities such as letters to the editor or organized a student group, held one meeting, be doing better here [in China] than in some income tax, not on principle, but because the calls to talk shows. Paula Moreland is checking and scheduled more. Contact there is Diane quarters at home. 16th Amendment was not properly ratified and letters in local papers, looking for those with Baker at 513-221-2864. *** oiuy a national sales tax is considered legitimate." libertarian flavor and then sending the ·writers Another Washington Post staffer, Sidney *** libertarian info packs. Bill Shotey is sending Another comment*** on the recent Future of Blumenthal, writing that new Chief Justice The Lousisiana LP is trying to pay off an old out info packs to other prospective libertarians,

DECENTRALIZE! Libertarian Part-q CHANGING Non-Violent Radical Decentralist Strategy -- Carol Moore, Editor NEWS YOUR ADDRESS? $3.00 for 4 issues. Sample $1.00 Libertarian Party NEWS is the official newspaper of the Libertarian Party of the United States. Opinions-and articles GDntained herein do not Box 106, 632 Cloverdale, Los necessarily represent official Party positions unless so Indicated. Send your new mailing address as soon as possible so you won't miss a single LP Angeles, CA 90036. NEWS issue. KARL HESS Write to: Editor Libertarian Party LIBERTARIANS FOR RANOY LANGHENRY THERESE HESS 301 W. 21st St. ANIMAL RIGHTS Managing Editor Production Manager Houston, TX 77008 Libertarians who support animal rights and oppose JENNIFER ROBACK abortion, please write for more-information: BILL EVERS DAVE SCHOLL MURRAY ROTHBARD PAT WAGNER Libertarians For Animal Rights Associate Editors JANE WILLIAMS · 7829 Cayuga Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20817 Contributing Editors To eo~ol ~he b~gge6~ ~hneat ~o BLUELINE GRAPHICS COM PRINT Charles Town, WV Gaithersburg, MD Typesetter Printer UbeJLty -i..n oWL eountJuj - govvr.nment: - ADDRESS CHANGES NEWS/PHOTOS/LETTERS LP NEWS Address Changes Libertarian Party NEWS we mU6~ Jtedu.ee ta.xe6. I do my paJLt, c/o Libertarian Party P.O. Box 173 301 W. 21st St. Kearneysville, WV 25430 Houston, TX 77008 304·263·7526 and maybe I ean hei.p you. do youJ1...6. 713·880·1776 703-662·36g1 \ Permission is granted to repnnt material from Libertarian Party NEWS unless material is marked "copyright.'·' Publication credit and tear sheets Richard Winchell are requested tor all material printed. is the only group in our movement that focuses on PUBLISHER Bookkeeping and Tax Service Lysander. Inc. gay/lesbian issues. For a sample copy of LGLC P.O. Box 173 Kearneysville. WV 25430 RoUTE 2 e BoX 303 Newsletter, Send SASE to: LGLC, 1800 Market 304·263· 7526 COLUMBIA, S.C. 29210 IB03l 7B 1 ·5427 · St., Box #210-A, San Francisco, CA 94102 6 January/February 1987- Libertarian Party NEWS How Not to Defend·Free Market Capitalism

By Tibor R. Machan munity pay to educating people about the extremely influential. When people decry low parable worth, they claimed. Upon closer merits of the market economy itself. wages and higlt prices, they are implicitly inspection it turned out that, among other The recent controversy about comparable . Now such judgments are intimately tied to extending their awareness of the market's _ things, Yale paid its truckers higher wages but worth-whether women ought to be paid the particular contexts. They can be made mostly ability to make room for all this kind of gave them only a week's vacation, in contrast same wage or salary as men when they hold only from moment to moment, with full knowl- nonsense. They are. saying, in effect, "Yes we to the three weeks received by the administra­ jobs that are virtually identical to those held by edge of the details of the circumstances. The know that all this is partly the resJJlt of tive staff. And there are all sorts of perks which men~touches on a fundamental dispute be­ groceries in one store may be overpriced, but individual choices, but those choices stink." were conveniently forgotten about. The fight tween free market capitalists and various ad­ this can only be known by those who are And that they sometimes do stink is evident to appears to have been fought in terms of high­ .vocates of a planned or regulated. economy. familiar with local conditions. The wages of us even when economists try to dismiss the sounding moral notions not because these Marx, for example, in contrast to neo­ some secretary may be too low, yet this too idea as a medieval concept. The response to reallyappliedbutbecausethatseemedthebest classical advocates ofthe free market economy~ requires detailed knowledge of the market. that in many people's minds is, "What your strategy for getting what some people wanted. such as Milton Friedman, argued that there is a Suppose that because some person is disliked science says, our ~::ommon sense tells us better." But the fact that moral categories can be way to determine whether a price is right or by the boss, he or she receives no raise even What is disturbing in all this is not that corrupted in the heat of argument and the Wl'ong. The free market economist believes though others doing the same work have been people can perceive that the market makes urgency of desire does not invalidate them. that all a price tells us is where demand and advanced. And suppose the basis of dislike has mistakes-e.g., that people are often wrong as Of course, it is one thing to defend free supply intersect, never mind whether the de­ nothing to do with performance. If one knows they go shopping· and spend their eaniings. market capitalism and . another to claim that mand or supply is rational, right, good, or this, one can say, correctly, that the person is That is plain common sense and everyone who any society enjoys one today; Bur even if rto whatever. And for these economists the free underpaid. There is, furthermore, no way to has ever regretted throwing good money after such system is in place and even if those market is essential, not only to learn about the tell without lui owing the details whether some some silly product knows it. But critics of free societies historically associated with the idea prevailing market price of commodities and corporation is spending its money correctly market capitalism go much further and· are have enormous distortions in their midst, the services, but also because economic freedom is when it chooses to promote classical plays on willing to promise that they will put into place merits of the theory need to be clearly articu- essentialfor the securement of individual free­ PBS rather than support a think tank which the right political and legal checks against Ia ted, not overstated, in. order to know in which dom. In contrast, Marx denies that "the nega­ spreads the word about privatization and the wasteful extravagance, injustice, imprudence, direction we should be making progress, toward tion of free competition [is] the negation of virtues of free market capitalism. Not that and all the other human foibles which ad- or away from free market capitalism. individual liberty." He charged that the "free" these are mysteries, only that they are difficult Iilittedly make an impact c;m the be.havior. of In the end ·only -utopian ·perfectionists will market ·embodies a ''free development on a to know. markets. . disregard such matters and make the futile and limited foundation-that of the dominion of And ofcourse these are just simple examples. . The problem, contrary to economic sup. tragic attemptto impose some perfect vision on capital." He convinced many ·people, from Attempts- to generalize about the situation a_~ __ _EQrterS o([~e~ market capitalism, is not tbat no us all. They should heed the words-of-Herbert Lenin to the Nicaraguan regime and some in futile, however, and this can be shown by evaluations can be made aboutthe way markets Spencer: "The ultimate result of shielding the women's movement, that in a free market considering how difficult it would be to gener- behave. The problem lies with the promise of men from the effects offolly is to fill the world capitalist system only the rich flourish. The alize about consumer discrimination against fixing it by way of state intervention. This is with fools." · poor, however, must suffer and always to the producers-e.g., if people refused to purchase simply a promise that cannot be-fulfilled. Marx benefit of the rich. For Marx, free market goods from blacks, or women, or orientals, and at least knew this. For him communism was Machan is a professor of philosophy at capitalist "liberty is ... the most complete sup­ patronized only stores run by others. This notabetteraltemativetofreemarketcapitalism Auburn University, Auburn, AL. pression of all individual liberty and total could certainly go on but it would be impos- but a syste,m that would arrive some future day, subjugation of individuality to social condi­ sible to trace and to remedy via the powers of of its own accord, whether we like it or· not, tions which take the form of material forces." the state. because the world just happens to move that Karl Marx and millions who follow him deny It is one thing to know that such cases are way. (To Marx, capitalism was to communism "that free competition is the fmal form of the possible, quite another to be able to demonstrate as the caterpillar is to the butterfly; a necessary Corrections development of productive forces, and thus of specific cases. Without the detailed knowledge, ugly prerequisite!) . human· freedom.'' Rather such free competi­ no such demonstration is possible. Still, those But since conimunismis an ugly nightniare, There were several inadvertent omissions tion "means only ... the domination of the mid­ who protest the idea (Jf injustice in the market- the question remains: What is really the best in our November/December issue. dle class." place overstate their case when they say that system for us now in this world? The belief that Election returns from Oregon were omit­ Marx and those influenced by him hold the the idea is nonsense. It is nonsense only from some special class of leaders-the likes of ted although they had been among the very prices and wages which are evident on· a free the point of view of economic science, which Ralph Nader, Mother Teresa, or Walter Mon- .first received, thanks to Joseph Oehn III's market-including the salaries of women aims to explain, describe, and predict events in dale-should take power and guard us against use of electronic mail to get them to us, This working as administrative assistants, nurses, or the marketplace, not to evaluate them. the human foibles we are all capable ofin a free is no reflection .on E-mail but only on our secretaries-are mostly the expression of the But economic scientists are not the. only ones society, just produces the Lenins, Stalins, sometimes flawed editorial process. At any interests of those with property. They can call who can make intelligent, informative com- Hitters, Gadaffis, and other little and big rate~ some highlights from Otegon were the the shots and they call them in their own favor, ments about what happens in markets. No dictators of human history, as well as a popula- races by Ed Marihart, for state representa­ exploiting those without property by paying more so than physiologists being the only tion unwilling to guard itself against some of tive, who drew I 0 percent of the vote, -and them mere subsistence wages. people who can say what happens to one's life's adversities-e.g;, shyster lawyers, lying Bill Goodman, running for Yamhill county Comparable worth. is ·an idea which has body when one is in pain---'-there is also the used car salespeople, unscrupufous brokers, treasurer, who drew 14 percent. Other resurfaced from this Marxian and other elitist person who can feel the agony from a bruise quacks, etc. There is no escape from the fact races, and percentages: Bob Fauvre, Steve critiques of free market capitalism. It holds that which the physiologists describe in tedious that human beings· can do wrong, but the.free Dodds, and Richard Sharvy for state repre­ there is a right price for women's work, namely va}ue-free terms. market copes better with human fallibility than sentative, with 4.3, 2.6, and 4.5 percent that which is due them in light of the real worth Consider why many people find value judg- do sociaiism and related efforts to wish our respectively, and Mona Loner, running for of their service, one which men are receiving ments about market transactions significant. problems away by counting on firm outside Yamhill county commissioner, with 5.9 because they command greater power in the Why do they reject the idea that all cbnsentual help. No, the marketplace is in fact the best percent. marketplace. And public policy should be capitalist acts are equally deserving of moral thing we have for resolving the problems we (If there are returns from other States directed toward adjusting the wages to reflect respect or even indifference? Why do they face in our economic lives. We know that which did- not appear in the NEWS, but this "real worth"! confidently, voice value judgments regarding . things can go wrong there, and to pretend which could be usefully run in our next issue Marxism is not the only source of this elitist free transactions? otherwise is self-delusion. Some economists, to get them on the record, please send them critique of the free niarket. Recentlythe Roman Clearly, some elements of free market capi- unfortunately, do claim that the marketplace is to the NEWS by February 8, our next Catholic bishops have issued drafts of a letter .talism can irk even the most libertarian of us. a perfect instrument for securing the good and deadline.) · in which they take on free market capitalism for Think of its frivolity and trivia, such as the pet righfthings in human society. It is not. Human Also omitted in the IjiSt issue was a byline failing to adhere to the proper ranking of social rock fad of a few years ago or the Michael beings enjoying freedom are also capable of for one of the liveliest of our stories, the one priorities. They argue, in essence, that free Jackson glove craze of more recent times. And misusing it. But giving some people political reporting on the Georgia LP's "Cracked market capitalism misallocates resources, in­ those are just the. wildest cases: People keep power to remedy matters only worsens the PoC awards to legislators with dismal per­ cluding labor, in the pursuit of frivolous and flocking to shops purchasing frivolous and problem .. formances by libertarian standards. The· even demeaning ends, while neglecting impor­ even disgusting merchandise-e.g., Cabbage In a free market, errors get corrected more article was authored by James W. Harris, of tant objectives that might otherwise be at­ Patch dolls, Perrier water, pornography, cig-. readily than in any planned society. They do Columbus, GA. ' tained. This is how free market capitalism can arettes, hard liquor, and the like, not to mention not become ·entrenched or petrified but can tolerate poverty, famine, social insecurity and useless diet pills, pointless cosmetics, or break- (th,ough may not always) be erased when and the like in the midst of opulence for some fast cereals.· where people think clearly and promptly. !'Refreshingly irreverent, members of society. Such enterprises clearly siphon off a good Finally, features ofthe market often deemed freethinking, iconoclastic, There is some sense in this, contrary to the amount of the productive energies of a com- to be trivial, useless, unjust, unkind, and so and slightly anarchistic." protestations of many modem economists who munity, energies which could have gone toward forth, are not what they seem to be. There is a hold that there is no place for value judgments the creation of genuinely vital goods and lot of hasty judgment about matters of com- Humanist CENTURY in economics. We often do make pretty good services. A very productive system is geared merce-about who is getting his or her share, One year-twelve issues-ten dollars guesses about how exorbitant some price is, away from what is important and useful toward who is paid well or badly,_ etc. That famous pet P. 0. Box 84116, San Diego CA 92138 how overpriced some item is on a given what is trivial, silly, and even foul. There is a rock, which became a fad, may very well have restaurant's menu; how overpaid some people great deal that's more important than to satisfy been the most touching gift for an old Colorado are, and how the salary someone receives is such desires, even if it is sometimes difficult to miner on his 85th birthday and brought a warm Check this issue's merely nominal-one "in name" only-and tell from afar what is really important to smile to his face as it reminded him of his life mailing label. There's fails to record the real worth of the person's people. We have to admit that millions waste a spent digging among the Rockies. When the work. We can also intelligibly lament the fact lot of their income on stuff they could readily large group of women employees marched in a special message for that some objectives go neglected in a free do without. protest of low wages at Yale University, they market-e.g., we often· find it disappointing In a society of millions of working people, kept saying they should get paid as much as you! how little heed members of the business com- such reckless spending is surely going to be Yale's truck drivers did. They were of com- Libertarian Party NEWS January/February 1987 5 Letters: A Powerful Tool for Activists An approach developed by Rochester, NY from members who by themselves would never forgetting, etc.; this number will usually pro­ For several reasons, we've decided to ask Libertarian activists has resulted in over 300 have written letters, and from new members vide attendance of at least six to eight writers­ only about half of the writers to include in their letters appearing in local newspapers in one whom we would never have asked to write letters the "critical mass" needed for mutual stimula­ letters the words "libertarian" or "Libertarian year, which is about a tenfold increase over on their own. We believe that even if the letters tion. We set up the groups so newer people Party." First, new writers may not be. as previous letters programs that were tried. were never published, the meetings would still mingle with the veterans-both to encourage effective as desirable in presenting the lib­ By Steve Becker, Alan Burris, and Dave be worthwhile for internal education alone. We the veterans by the appearance of new faces, ertarian . point of view. Second, editors may Hoesly can't stress strongly enough the importance of and to help educate · the newer people by look less kindly on an organized, systematic Why write libertarian letters to the editor? the esprit de corps which develops from working contact with those who are familiar with the program of letters than on letters from in­ together in a group to advance the ideas of Because they're widely read and are an ef­ arguments for liberty. dividuals not connected with a "movement." liberty! fective and inexpensive way to communicate At the meeting we review the newspaper Third, someone who reads the letter may wish Any letters program with these features ideas. Because composing a letter induces.us to clippings, and each participant takes two to use to contact the writer, but might be put off by should produce better results than trying to get think about the ideas for liberty and how to as a basis for letters. Then we discuss questions explicit reference to a political organization. people to write on their own. However, for .express them persuasively, thereby making about how to best explain the issues, and The flip side of this coin is that reference to maximum effectiveness, a systematic approach each of us more effective in our other, personal everybody starts writing. "libertarian" provides a rallying point, an is essential. The following system has worked contacts with prospects. Beca4se they produce For continued enthusiastic participation of identification with which individuals can con­ well for us. in the community a libertarian presence to writers, they must be urged to be very serious nect when they read agreeable points of view. which others who love liberty can rally (we The Details about the task, but not urgedso much that they (There are a lot of libertarians out there who recruited one of our most active local Liber­ First, determine which media will accept don't enjoy the meetings. We recommend that just don't know what they are, and our move­ tarians when he responded to a letter a member letters to the editor, or replies to radio or TV the goal of each writer be tofinish two letters at ment can benefit greatly from contacting these had written). Because local candidates receive editorials. Contact these papers or stations to each meeting, with a minimum of one com­ folks and stirring them to action!) a warmer reception when they knock on find out their limits on how frequently they will pleted letter, ready to mail. During the week before a group meets, a people's doors, if they've previously gained publish letters from the same writer. Many We also recommend a time limit of two volunteer (or two) clips articles which are just name recognition through regular letters. Be- large daily papers will restrict a given writer to hours for meeting-for example, 7:30 to 9:30. crying for a libertarian response. Each clipping . cause making a public statement helps rein­ one published letter per month, but some Longer meetings may result in writers dropping should have written on it the name and date of force the individual's dedication to activism. weeklies will print you every week. An area out from burnout, lack of sleep, etc. the publication. Thus the writer can refer in weekly has printed one of our writers 49 times At the end of each meeting, the Chair should his/her letter to the specific article, increasing The Problems in the last year, and a radio station encouraged collect all the finished (and reviewed) letters, the chances of the letter being published. The main problems in any letters program him to send commentaries more often than his . and after making a photocopy for the files, mail Another volunteer sets up a schedule for are motivating people to write, and assisting usual once a week! out one or two a day. Spreading out the mailing those who are participating, and calls the writers who are less articulate and less familiar Suppose that the major daily newspaper makes the letters more likely to be published, · members of a given group about a week in with issues and libertarian ideas. Unless these limits you to one per month. The delay between and letters appearing regularly will have more advance, advising them of the location of their problems are overcome, only a very few of the your mailing the. letter and their publishing it impact than a bunch at longer intervals. Partic­ next meeting (the time should always be the most dedicated and knowledgeable Libertarians often prevents you from appearing more than ipants should bring their own stationery, en­ same). will write letters. We tried several ways-even once every five or six weeks, so that's how velopes, and stamps (TANST AAFL!). One of our members is responsible for providing rough drafts-to motivate more often a Libertarian letter-writer should be The Chair keeps a log of who wrote to which recruiting new participants into groups if at- people to write, before we found one that asked to write. Writing this infrequently is not paper on what topic at a given meeting. The .. tendance has waned. The letter-writing program resulted in letters rather than promises. onerous, and hence it's relatively easy to get Chair watches for the letters to appear, clips should be explained to new prospective liber­ A Solution such commitments. them, and enters them on the log. If a writer's tarian activists, and they should be asked to Tbe key is to make letter writing a regular Next, form groups of Libertarians who agree letter has not been published in l 0 days, the join a group fairly soon. Many people do group activity. Groups can provide the needed to meet regularly, for example every six weeks, writer is requested to call the newspaper asking nothing active to advance liberty simply be­ motivation and assistance. Discussions and to write the letters. if the letter will be used. Using this approach, cause no one has asked them! socializing with refreshments tum a chore into We've found it desirable to have about a about 85 percent of our letters have been For additional information, contact the an enjoyable party. Selected newspaper clip- dozen people committed to regularly attend published. The most recent letters published Rochester Libertarian Party, Box 267, Web­ pings provide ideas for letters. · their group's meeting. With the inevitable are displayed at the letter-writing meetings; ster, NY 14580, or call Dave Hoesly at 716- We've seen accomplished writers develop problems of. schedule conflicts, backsliding, seeing results encourages the participants. 671-8821.

Letter to Another Editor This letter, from Marge Chapman, Vice Letters to the Editor Chairman, LibertarianPartyofUtah, was written to The Salt Lake Tribune. Continued from Page 2 nuns-no, wait, they're pretty tou~-ahh, One Plus One Sunday School teachers, let's see ... mentally The way to make more libertarians is by It is very discouraging when the Liber­ News Coverage The news coverage of non-party libertarians handicapped, any group the opponents of education. The best educational technique was tarian Party is misrepresented such as it pornography want. discovered by Socrates: Ask the person the was on NBC Nightly News on August 18. (such as LROC, voluntaryists) and quasi­ libertarian groups ( decentralists, Greens) is right question, the one that gets him to draw the It was stated Libertarians were for abor­ Then you obtain some hard-core snuff-porno, conclusion himself. tion, for the ERA, and for legalizing drugs. actually valuable for the Libertarian Party. not just copulating naked bodies but the worst The positive or negative responses received I keep hearing about "outreach" efforts to This is a misrepresentation of Libertarian kind of junk a vice-officer has ever seized, and get more people into the LP. How about trying principles. by those groups can help the LP learn what boxes of it. Now instead of just revealing it, works and what doesn't, in terms of presenting something more modest: to get people who Libertarians believe every person should let's make the test far more diabolical. We'll have one libertarian position to accept just one be free to believe in the moral principles of liberty to people. If some of those groups seem lock two groups into specially prepared rooms; successful at attracting people to their side .. .it more? Even that would be worth working for. their choice-without interference from the one a control for the other. In the first I Most gays are not libertarians. This is others: specifically, government interven­ tells us our potential audience is getting bigger. would propose a market situation in which It can provide leads for where to find potential astonishing. The next time anyone says that tion. Libertarians do not believe people there is some brown-paper-wrapped porno­ the government has no business interfering in have a right to force others (by legislation) "recruits" or allies to help promote liberty ... graphy and alongside that, what all would Hiding its head in the sand and suppressing private acts among consenting adults, ask "So to guarantee them a job, income, neces­ agree is culturally up-lifting material. Any of you oppose minimum wage laws?" sities, life, etc. Libertarians want all laws news about its "Brand X" competition would the material would be revealed to those who be about as helpful to the Party as it is for a The next time someone says that a woman removed that enslave some individuals to pay the going rate. (I don't know what a peek at should have absolute dominion over the interior satisfy the needs and desires of others. business executive to surround himself with Arizona Highways costs, maybe 10¢ an hour, "Yes'' men. of her own body, ask "So she should be free to Libertarians believe everyone has the and the porn, maybe as high as two quarters for ingest marijuana?" right to be free from the coercive acts of three minutes.) Then in the other room we have The LP could do some good by running such others (this means everyone) ... and some M.R. O'Mara the same two piles of materials but there's a Baltimore, MD one-step-at-a-time ads in the publications of legislation and bureaucracies represent the guard in the room too. His job is to prevent special groups, such as publications for gays, most coercive acts ever perpetrated upon them from looking at any of the pornography, gun owners, etc. Most of these people do not U.S. citizens. Porn})ri~c:iple . . . although the rest of the material is unrestricted. I woula like to add something to Tom know the LP exists, or what libertarians· are. · Libertarians believe everyone should be Really. Radloff's very clever media event involving the I think there is little doubt which group free to pursue their own;goals, earn their In the November 1986 Leaflet, published by scientific observation of the bizarre effects of would have the more uncomfortable experience. own way, and be responsible for their own the National Organization for the Reform of pornography on people (Letter to the Editor, Tom's test is utilitarian. It legitimizes the actions ... and that any law that interferes Marijuana Laws (NORML), I found this com­ Libertarian Party NEWS, Sept./Oct. '86). notion that "whether pornography is harmful with this principle is a coercive law, a form ment on a survey they had done of their The principled defense of freedom of speech or not determines its legality." If he proves that of slavery, the antithesis of freedom, and members' political positions: " .. .liberal... is not that pornography is harmless. It is that the pictures of sex are harmless he leaves open the should be eliminated now. · conservative. Surprisingly/ many people re­ Libertarians are not for abortion, for the freedom to choose pornography or not is argument that some things can be harmful and sponded to this question by claiming they were ERA, for legalizing drugs. Libertarians are harmless, and any coercive withdrawal of that therefore should be illegal. I realize he was just fiscally conservative and socially liberal. A for removing all laws that interfere with the right is harmful. having fun with this idea, but it is all too new party in the making, perhaps?" So to make Tom Radloff's porn-fest really common for libertarians to use the arguments freedom of any individual. Libertarians are GRRRRRRRRRR! in favor of people having whatever they meaningful he should not use volunteers, but of practical utility rather than principle. Richard Sharvy want as long as someone else is not forced to people selected by someone of the Moral Eugene, OR provide it. Majority; i.e., people most sensitive to the Walter Clark effects of pornography: criminals, teenagers, Fullerton, CA Continued on Page 12 Libertarian Party NEWS January/February 1987 7 Viewpoint Defense, Abortion, Religion Test LP Principles

By Karl Hess principles of libertarianism, into wider public Libertarian Party members, are not religious. consciousness. But libertarianism is not about majorities any There are some issues which pose particular And a final comment about the defense more than it is about minorities. It is about problems for Libertarian Party members. Some issue. No matter the fervor of either side on the individuals. of these are issues where the two older parties defense issue (strong national defense vs. Some individuals, who subscribe to every have staked out clear claims on one side or ft:A wholly denationalized;privatized defense), the social and ethical principle that derives from another. Some are issues on which there is no impact of the Libertarian Party will be small. the basic libertarian opposition to the initiation absolutely clear Libertarian Party position. {t ~-, ',\ The defense issues of this land-mass, alas, will of force, also are deeply religious. They believe Foremost among these issues are defense, be decided for many years by the two older in a god. But libertarians who believe in god abortion, and religion. parties. Libertarians can lend weight" to one also may believe that liberty and individual Because they are highly charged issues, side or the other, perhaps tip a balance here and responsibility, non-interventionism, and volun­ contentious and even divisive, the advice and there, perhaps wisely inform a policy-maker taris~ are precisely godly in nature and derive practice ofrriany libertarians has been to avoid here and there. from the very word of god. In my experience discussing them. For any libertarians to destructively fight this is exactly what they believe. Many have It is, however, an operating principle of this among themselves over an issue which they so spent rigorous and rewarding hours researching newspaper that there are no subjects which slightly impact is, in my view, sadly wasteful. scriptural writings for support of this notion should be taboo for free men and women. Thus, Debate, of course. To try and destroy another and they have found a considerable amount.. a few comments on these issues and the libertarian over it? Never. controversy that often accompanies them. Yet, these same people-in letters to this newspaper-have expressed anguished con­ Abortion . cern that their personal belief in a god will Defense Abortion is .another issue which seems to result in ridicule by other libertarians. It should The defense issue reflects an even deeper bring out the most implacably hostile nature of not. one: the fact that there is, and probably long libertarians. All libertarians apparently agree will be, a "split personality" in the Libertarian without equivocation that tax~supported abor­ Some of us have an almost religious feeling Party when it comes to the issue of the State tions are anathema. Some, however, believe about quantum mechanics, Gresham's Law, or itself. There are libertarians who are anar­ that an abortion under any circumstance or the speed oflight in a vacuum. We expect some chistically opposed to the very existence of the sponsorship is simply murder (the fetus being good-natured quips about it. We do not expect Nation State. There are certainly as many "But if we can't kill, how are we supposed to an innocent victim). Others believe that some ridicule. We do not expect to be made to feel libertarians who support a classically minimal enforce the rest qf them?" abortions are acts of self-defense and thus unwelcome at Party functions. Neither should state, rigorously confined to the protection of justify killing the fetus· which is seen as an our religious libertarian brothers and sisters. individual rights and to defense! plank. That two such positions should co-~xist intruder and, in the case of rape, an uninvited A believer in god can believe in liberty and The most recent platform of the Libertarian in a document representing "the party of one. Others believe that at a certain stage the aspire to a heaven in which all are free. A Party, on the matter of defense, is no anarchic principle" is tribute to the fact that the Lib­ fetus simply is an undistinguished growth believer in expedient defense can believe in credo. It is a "minarchist" statement which ertarian Party is, after all, a political party which may be excised with as little care as one liberty and yearn for a world in which to .be "recognizes the necessity for maintaining a rather than any other sort of libertarian or­ would take in paring away a toenail. Some say, free. An abortionist can believe in the liberty of sufficient military force to defend the United ganization or association. Its great appeal to "Look, it's my body!" an unwilling mother. States against aggression." It also favors libertarians who voluntarily choose to engage In political terms (once again reminding We are, inost of us, nowhere near where we negotiation toward general and complete dis­ in public political activity is that it is a party at ourselves that this is a political party, no want ourselves and the world to be. We are ~mentbutonly "provided every-necessary least based upon respect for the principle of matter how philosophically profound its mem­ travelers toward, not yet residents in, a free precaution is taken to effectively protect the ' individual sovereignty and more expressive of· bers may be) the fact that all libertarians can society. There are many who walk backward lives and the rights of the American people." that principle than any other political party in agree to oppose, as their political activity, all toward forceful rule by some over others. On the other hand, the same platform op­ the land. tax-supported abortions could mean that in the There are many who walk sideways, toward poses "all government activity that consists of The Libertarian Party is neither a perfect .Party we unite on that, and proceed, even while making things as they are just a bit more the forcible collection of money or goods from party nor a perfect expositor of pure liber­ carrying on our various other beliefs on the tolerable even ir'basically unchanged. individuals in violation of their individual tarianism. B-ut-and this could be the most subject in all available forums including state But there are many of us walking many other rights." And, on the question of those very crucial "but" in anyone's consideration of the and local LP meetings and even the national paths toward liberty. We seem sometimes lost, same individual rights, the platform does not LP-the Libertarian Party exists and is avail­ convention. It is probable, however, that at all sometimes bemused or confused. Maps come equivocate: " ... no individual, group, or gov­ able for anyone who wants to engage in politics those meetings in the near future as in the past, and go. The road itself broadens, then almost ernment may initiate force against any other and promote libertarianism at the same time. the only agreement that will be reached will be vanishes, reappearing again beyond a thicket individual, group, or government." Thus, its defense position will surely not be on the issue of state power. Libertarians who or a hill. We run into others as we go. Should If not an outright statement of anarchist shared by those who sincerely feel that they leave the Party because that's less than they we want companions (and some never will) we libertarianism, that platform statement is at the cannot be true to libertarian principle and still want will be making an individual judgment need to talk a lot about the path itself, and the very least an unequivocal statement that only advocate any form of tax~supported defense which we should respect. Libertarians who direction we want to go. To argue implacably voluntary social associations are ethically ac­ effort. But it may, at least, be respected as the wish to expel or silence anti-abortion advo­ and angrily about our hiking gear, our boots, or ceptable to free men and women. sincere effort of some libertarians to operate in cates would be acting in a far less libertarian whether we should carry a stick will not get us The defense plank of the platform is riot a the admittedly treacherous swamps of regular manner. very far. principled plank. It is a practical political plank. public politics and to take so-called real-world I want to make the whole trip. I welcome The platform plank against "forcible collec­ positions which, although not perfect, may Religion companions. And that is why' perhaps like a tion" (i.e., involuntary taxation) is a prjncipled help move the Party and, consequently, all the The majority oflibertarians and, presumably, broken record, I keep on saying things like this. Message for a Young American By Hugh Butler Our aging leaders· spend more now in pre­ Buy Liberty Bucks to Support I have a son. He's nine months old-33 paration for the next war they desire than they years younger than I. did fighting in Vietnam with the bodies of half a When he is 33, I and 75 million other million of -our brothers and sisters. Do they The Culture of Freedom Ainericans will be eligible for social security really think we will remain politically asleep while they filch more and more of our substance You can save money by investing now in your 1987 LP National Convention. The Libertarian under today's rule. Party of Washington State is selling Liberty Bucks redeemable for the Convention at a current I'm told that I've got a little money put away to finance a war we won't allow? discount of 15%. by the ·Reagan administration for my retire­ We are the new America. We must rise from A full convention pass costs $295 during pre-registration, but you can pay as low as $250.75, if ment. Some of it is in Nicaragua, some in our slumbers and take the helm. Time magazine you buy Liberty Bucks before March 31. Or you can buy enough Liberty Bucks for a $250 delegate Libya, and there's quite a tidy sum of invest­ says we're conservative on economic issues pass, a $160 economy passe or a $45 basic pass. A pre-registration economy pass, for example, anu liberal ori social issues. Right. They say we . paid for with Liberty Bucks, and purchased before March 31, willcostyou$136. What a savings! ments in Europe I'm told will mature just when Get on the bandwagon early! Promote your commitment to freedom and liberty and save I need it. don't vote. Right. They say we're cynical about politicians and government. Right. They money too. I do not intend to steal from my son to See you in Seattle for an extraordinary convention. finance my old age. I wish for him all the things say we have no political ideology. Wrong. We are the libertarians. We've my paren~wished for me-health, happiness, and pros · "ty. But more than that I wish for proven we're here to stay. Now we're going to him and for e a life free of the heavy hand of show what we're here to do. Save Now oppressive go ernment. I -pledge my best efforts to arouse the consciousness of our generation, to promote Ours is the generation born to a world half the liberty path leading to a better life for us all, Make checks payable to: dead from war. We were raised as the hope of a to prepare and plan for the day when we cynics generation so battered by strife they called a find reason to run to the ballot box and change LPWS Convention Services decade without military involvement a "Cold" the world for the better. P.O. Box 23108 War. We rose up against the undeclared war which sought to take more lives and we stopped Butler was the Libertarian Partv candidate Seattle, WA 98102 that war. for the U.S. Senate, from Utah, in 1986. 8 January/February 1987 Libertarian Party NEWS VCR' s Target Of Porn Attack .. rr ·A Tennessee criminal court jury ended a rt" nine-day trial by reporting to the judge that they were hopelessly deadlocked in their ef­ forts to convict or acquit Michael Goode and the business.• Video, Etc., for renting adult videotapes in violation ofTennessee's obscenity .. law. Prosecutors immediately announced plans to seek a new trial in early 198-7. The trial was the culmination of a massive FBI undercover operation involving the search and seizure of adult videotapes at 17 family video stores and six adult bookstores in April of 1985. Prosecutors had chosen Video, Etc., and owner Michael Goode, a Memphis at­ torney, as the test case. Testimony by the key pro.secution witness, an FBI undercover agent, '" ·marked the first time the federal government had ever moved against a family video movie store for renting adult movies. According to federal prosecutors, indict­ ments against the distributors of adult video­ o- tapes are expected soon from the federal grand jury in Memphis. b Just as conservative Memphis was selected .t by the federal government as the site for the r .¢ widely publicized "Deep Throat" obscenity C" e trials, it has again become the choice of • ,prosecutors as the most likely place to win convictions for the interstate shipment of adult videotapes. Memphis juries have traditionally "C\\1 ~, \.\sam 'Na~K~~S 0\l~R-UP AGA\N6i it\a WA'.~! We GC\1~ C~eC.K convicted those accused of violating laws \~1 ~~\~~fOR ?\C\URa5,, ~~1,S se.~ YOUR H~\aROsalU~ ~1ce~se governing obscenity. t')\R'N CCNWCT According to the defendant Michael Goode, ..~U ~a~M Stv\0\\\~~ AA'! CO~\~~~~ &\l~\AACeS? 'f\\.'- U? tr\\S ~\1'.~, ?\.~$~,,,,rr after the "hung" jury was dismissed: "I'm sorry that the Jury was unable to unanimously vindicate the rights of VCR owners to watch what they want in the privacy of their homes~ But I'm very grateful that some members of the The NRC jury were outraged by the ridiculous lengths the FBI has resorted to in their war against what This is another in a continuing series of people can view at home. We proved that brief profiles of non-party, and even anti- sexually explicit material is not obscene and is .party, groups ·which in some way support tolerated by our community. This' prosecution' libertarian and/or freemarket positions. The was not the result oflocal complaints. It was a series is presented, not necessarily to endorse direct attempt by the U.S. Attorney General in any of the groups, but to assure Libertarian Washington, DC, to impose the views of a Party mem.bers ofaccess to information about federal censor on our community." others who, each in their own way, are invqlved The Meese Commission Report on Porno-· in the cause ojliberty. graphy, released in July 1986, has spawned renewed attacks . on pornography all across The National Resistance Committee (NRC) America. The Memphis case is the first in­ was organized in 19 80 to oppose draft registra­ volving federal agents acting against a video tion. Its newspaper, Resistance News, is a movie store. multi-ideological forum for discussion of re­ sistance to registration. The focus is on an issue-'draft registration-and a tactic-resist­ ance-rather than on any particular political or religious critique of conscription. Calling Card Although the current members of the edi­ torial collective draw their analysis of draft The Libertarian Party NEWS can be a registration from feminism and the political calling card for local activists. left, in the past many libertarians have worked If there's a l~al editorial writer that you'd I with the NRC. The paper welcomes articles like to reach, make an appointment to see him and letters from people who approach the issue about the Party's publication, and suggest that from i>erspectives other than its own. Recent it may contain editorial material, pro or con, issues have included essays by draft resister that will be of use. Take a copy or two. If he and libertarian Paul Jacob, as well as one of his wants his oWn subscription, the local party letters from prison. The paper is committed to could offer him one. It could be the best $10 publishing the widest possible range of views. investment in public relations that you could The goals are: make. Essential Similarities Feds Dump on US •To resist current U.s: preparations for When the NEWS has articles on privatiza­ The General Accounting Office has an­ conscription ·and war by encouraging those of tion, you might us.e that as an excuse to visit free as a bird... nounced that federal agencies have shipped draft age to refuse registration. with local officials. free as the wind.. . 8,300 tons of toxic wastes, in just six months, •To sponsor.and promote nonviolent civil And don't forget to try and get the Libertarian free- as the sea .. . to a California waste disposal facility that the disobedience to oppose draft registration. Party NEWS into libraries and, particularly, ... then why not Environmental Protection Agency had found • To build a grass-roots movement by col­ into college libraries. free as me... in "significant violation" of environmental lecting pledges of nonregistration, distributing laws. literature, holding public actions, forming sup­ Is there any way to get the federal govern­ port groups, and working with existing or­ -Chris Brockman ment to obey its own laws? Replied the GAO: ganizations to resist registration~ IS ABORTION AGGRESSION? "The only way the EPA can prevent federal Subscriptions toResistance News are $15/ · Libertarian arguments against abortion and in DEREGULATOR agencies from using a particular facility is to year (4 issues) from NRC, P.O. Box 42488, favor of children's rights. Literature packet: close the facility." · San Francisco, CA 94142. Send $1 for a $3. (SASE for information only.) 8-page monthly tabloid Meantime, the agencies continue to dump sample cc,py. Libertarians for Life on liberty 13424 Hathaway Drive, 1118 such dainties as PCBs-which could cause the' Wheaton, MD 211906, 301/460-4141 Sample $1/0ne year $8 arrest of a mere citizen. And who is the largest See you in Seattle in September! Ubertarlan Presidential NomlnaUng Convention Box 17475 Raleigh NC 27619 dumper? None other than the Defense De­ SeaUie Sheraton Hotel Seplember 2, 3, 4, 5, I, 1987 parl:n1ent. Libertarian Party NEWS January/February 1987 9 Sing a Song of Passive Revolution

By Gary Alexander I'll sing you a song-as a body may say, While America luxuriates in the bicentennial of its Constitution, To the King's regulars, who ne'er run away. those of us who never signed that revered social contr~ct; and Our hearts were all stout, and bid our legs stay, therefore.don't feel bound by the "chains of the Constitution" But our feet were wrong-headed and took us away. (Jefferson's phrase), keep looking ba,ck to the Declaration of Independence and the War for Independence for the renewal of To Ticonderoga, .we went in a passion, a more pure American spirit of freedom. Swearing to be revenged on the whole French nation . One aspect missing from both the I97 6 bicentennial (and the But we soon turned tail, without hesitation, I986 Statue of Liberty centennial) was an examination of the Because they fought behind trees, which is not the actual words and music which inspired the original tax rebels, fashion. whom most of us now call patriots and Founding Fathers. In their continual repetition of national anthems, military marches For 15 miles theyfollow'd and pelted us, with no time to and endless patriotic songs, such celebrations tend .to ignore pull a trigger, · the actual songs. the original patriots sang. But did you ever know a retreat peiform 'd with more "Yankee Doodle," the only Revolutionary song to survive to vigour? ;, this day, was actually a British ditty lampooning the American For we did it in two hours, which saved us from rubes. The patriots picked it up as their rallying cry, as if to say, perdition, "We may be country bumpkins to you, but then we don't wear Twas not in going out but in returning consisted our red coats into battle, either." Most of the other songs .expedition. Americans sang during the Revolutionary era were of the same ... They beat us in the fight, but we beat them in the race. origin-British songs to which new words and new messages were added. It is from those messages that we know what the original Revolutionaries were thinking. · The solo vocal pieces, with tunes taken from the The Tories Fight Back British musical stage, were propaganda songs per­ As if to fight the Americans at their own game, the Tory formed at home and in· small gatherings to affirm song, "The American Vicar of Bray," appeared in the Loyalist patriotic feelings with sarcasm and fervor. .. To sum­ newspaper, The New York Gazette, on June 30, 1779. It was marize and amplify slightly: When the colonies went to written to the tunc of "Country Gardens"-a tune from The war with Great Britain, a small amount ofnew·music Quaker's Opera (London, 1728), and a tune which was later was composed to commemorate the struggle; a larger popularized by Percy Grainger. It told the story of the amount of propandist verse was written and sung to ambivalence of many colonists between loyalty to the crown well-known British tunes. (From The Birth ofLiberty: and their equally strong desire for freedom and independence. Music of the American Revolution, by Richard Craw­ Of the 10 long stanzas, these three summarize the story pretty ford, Recorded Anthology of American Music, Inc.) well:

When Royal George rul'd o'er this land, and loyalty no 1768: Three "Liberty Songs" harm meant, Perhaps the best example of Americans lampooning British For church and King I made a stand, and so I got songs ·is the '"Liberty Song," _written in 1768 by J0hn preferment. Dickinson (1732-1806). The hoary British patriotic tune, I still opposed all party tricks, for reasons I thought "Heart of Oak," was one of the most popular,of the patriotic clear ones. - British songs, written in 1759 by David Garrick and William And swore it was their politics, to make us Presbyterians. Boyce to commemorate British victories in the French and Indian War (Seven Years War, 1756-1763). The original Now all went smooth, as smooth could be, I strutted British chorus was: · and looked big, Sir; Heart of oak are our ships, heart of oak are our men. And when they laid a tax on tea, I was believ'd a Whig, We always are ready. Steady, boys, steady. Sir.· We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again .. I laughed at all the vain pretence of taxing ·at this With the passage of the hated Townshend Acts in 1767, tbe distance. following parody version appeared in The Boston Gazette, And swore before I'd pay my pence, I'd make a firm July 17, 1768. This is the American refrain, based on resistance. defending their purses from unjust taxation: Infreedom we're born, and infreedom we'll live, When Howe with drums and great parade, March'd Our purses are ready. Steady, boys, steady. thro' this famous town, Not as slaves, but as free men, our money we'll give. 1 cried, 'May fame his temples shade, with laurels for a Finally, a far_ more pointed and bitter "Parody Upon A crown. Well-Known Liberty Song" {also known as "Come Shake With zeal I swore to make amends to good old Your Dull Noodles," which serves as the opening line of the Constitution; · song) appeared in the same Boston Gazette just two months And drank corifusion for the friends of our late later, on September 26, 1768. The song was written to shame . Revolution. the colonists who meekly gave in to· the new British taxes: In folly you're born, and in folly you 'l/ live The fact that all the words in this essay were written to the To madness still ready, and stupidly steady. tunes of the most famous, most stirring British ballads of the Not as Men, but as Monkies, the Tokens you give. day, gave them double power: (I) The colonists had no trouble singing these familiar melodies and thus propagating them The Boston Occupation of 177 5 Much of the music of the era was based on the sacred psalms, widely among the common folk; and (2) the not inconsiderable When British Generals Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne as much of their lives revolved around their religion. In a close pride of the British Empire was brought especially low when entered Boston Harbor on May 25; I 77 5, to take over 8.ritish parallel with Psalm 137 ("By the rivers of Babylon . .';), they heard their most noble songs butchered by the Yankee military operations there, the Americans composed a light­ William Billings (1746-I800) wrote Lamentation Over Doodles. After all, we even turned their most sacred "God hearted" Junto Song," which lampooned British taxing avarice. Boston which recalls the British oecupation qfthe city between _ Bless The King" into "My Country, 'Tis of Thee.'' .How The chorus is a humorous and repetitive "A-taxing we will go,. the Battle of Bunker Hill in June, I775, and the British disrespectful can you get? A-taxing we will go, "etc. The tune was written for the British evacuation of March, 1776. The opening lines of Billings' In conclusion, Americans obviously showed their famous stage by Thomas Arne (17IO-I778) and is known today as Lamentation recall the Biblical lamentation: sense of humor early in this nation's history. Today, Americans "A-hunting we will go," etc. Some of the Americanized verses By.th.e Rivers of Watertown, we sat down and wept, ·are saying the same kinds of 1hjng!;l i,o, their bumper stickers, show the humor the patriots expressed in those "taxing times." when we remembered thee, 0 Boston. · underground films, stand-up comedy routines, and editorial The song is written as from a British taxman's perspective:_ God forbid! That those who have sucked Bostonian cartoons. One can imagine the quality of libertarian satire we ~rce and fraud in one unite, to bring them to our Breasts should thirst for American Blood! could see from ihe likes ofWoody Allen, Dick Gregory, Mort hands; Voice was heard in Roxbury, which echo'd thro' the Sahl, Robin Williams, or Bill Cosby (once their tax bills are Then lay a taxon thesun'slight, and King's taxon their Continent, weeping/or Boston because oftheirdanger. .. high enough to command their attention) ... "Gee! Then we lands. Boston my dear Town, my native Place. could get Stephen Sondheim writing lyrics to the great tunes of Tis money makes the member vote and sanctifies our At about the same time (November 2 7, 177 5 ); ye olde Tin Pan Alley, and then we could rent Carnegie Hall for a ways; Boston Gazette came through again with another light-hearted night...'' (A scene from the forthcoming Mickey Rooney movie, "The Hardy Boys Rally 'Round the Revolution.'') It makes the patriot turn his coat for money we must parody of "The King's Own Regulars," dramatizing the I raise. supposed cowardice of the British troops, from the time of the A-taxing we will go; a-taxing we will go, ... a-taxing we French and Indian War through the current occupatioll of Gary Alexander is managing editor ofWealth magazine, will go ... Boston. Benjamin Franklin has often been credited with Gold Newsletter. andfour otherpublications. He is descended Following the slaughter at the Battle of Bunker Hill (June writing the parody, but the true author-must remain anonymous. from Bostonian tax rebels who may have sung these songs, 17, 1775), the colonists' humor understandably turned sour, Of the I5 original verses, the following three trace the story of a and is a part-time disc jockey in New Orleans, where he plays and many Bostonians turned to the church for musical solace. Boston Marathon in reverse: great American music like this on WWOZ. · 10 January/February 1987 Libertarian Party NEWS 'Solution' to South Africa's Problelll Outlined Best-Seller Probes with their feet by moving froin one cantonto another and taking their wealth and property with them." Complete freedom of movement Practical Application among a diversity of political and economic systems would lead to competition for citizens Of Libertarian Ideals and capital which would be won by the freer The following book review, condensed from cantons, and would lead to their systems being the "Bulletin" of the Ontario Libertarian copied. Party, is commended to the attention of all Freedom of movement would, over time and libertarians for several reasons. First, it .con­ with no further political action required, result cerns the work of two of the most active and in a system in which each canton would have influential libertarians in the world, Leon and only those powers explicitly delegated to it by Frances Kendall Louw. Second, the review each of.its citizens: by definition a libertarian itself, going beyond the content of the extra­ system. ordinary book that is its main subject, makes points about national libertarian ideologies Applying the Solution that may be of interest to libertarians every­ South Africa: The Solution has already had where. Third, it concerns an issue, South a considerable impact in that country, being a Africa, that inevitably will involve the at­ South African bestseller for over eight months. tention and demand the comments ofAmerican The extent of that impact is as yet uncertain. libertarians. What is _certain is that the libertarian option has been permanently placed on the Smith By George Dance African political agenda. As its title suggests, South Africa: The Development of the South Mrican liber­ Solution, by Frances Kendall and Leon Louw tarian movement should lead to the creation of (Ciskei: Amagi, 1986), offers a solution to the national libertarian ideologies in other countries. current racial violence and political unrest in One can imagine a British libertarianism, for South Africa. Libertarians who read the book instance, using the intellectual heritage of only for that -reason, though, will be making a Locke, Spencer, and Herbert to criticize the serious mistake. Not that the title is misleading. festations were the 18th and 19th Century further political action required) in a free current British socialist state; or an Irish The Solution does deliver a plausible, politi­ treks of Mrikaners throughout the country, and society. libertarianism, offering the free society of cally attainable solution to the South African the resulting multiplicity of small, limited, To libertarians, this will be· the most con­ ancient Ireland as a solution to the ongoing crisis. But it contains a far more valuable largely voluntary states. troversial part of The Solution. Despite its religious warfare there. lesson for the libertarian movement. Apartheid, on the other hand, is shown to be advocacy of the free market throughout, the A Canadian libertarianism. could start from For libertarianism to develop in a country, it the product of Dutch and English imperial rule; book falls short of demanding the establish­ the 19th Century rebellions against the Family must be placed on that country's political ari attempt to reconcile separate development ment of a free market economy in South Compact and for responsible government, agenda. That is, it must be promoted not only with the imperialists' desire for a unitary state. Mrica. moving to a critique of the present-day ruling as a set of ideas but as a distinctly national ·Far from anti-black legislation being invented Instead, Kendall and Louw propose the clique and the lack of.responsible government ideology, stemming from and addressing itself by Afrikaners, it was originated by foreign institution of a canton system: a political under the current system. to the mainstream political debate in that masters that were simultaneously anti-black system similar to that of Switzerland, with The ways in which libertarianism could l:le country. and anti-Afrikaner. power devolved to over 100 small, autonomous. applied to political systems are as numerous as · Construction of such -a national ideology---'-" . This history prepares the .reader for the political-districts, with a weak central govern- · the .number of political systems· themselves.·· ofa distinctly South Mrican libertarianism-is authors' conclusion that "it is only by returning ment upholding a common constitution and bill Any attempt to apply libertarianism in this the approach taken by Kendall and Louw. to their origins, to a dual system which maxi­ of rights. "Each canton would detertl).ine its way; though, should follow the patterns used in Kendall, editor of The Individualist, and mizes individual freedom, that ·blacks, Afri- - own economic policy, its own labor, transport, The Solution. In particular, it should employ Louw, executive director of the Free Market kaners, and all of South.Mrica's other groups education, tax, subsidization, welfare, and the three stages of (I) presenting a native Foundation, could easily have written either an of people can live together in peace and race policies." libertarian tradition, ( 2) using the tradition to academic treatise or a basic introductory primer prosperity." The canton system plainly is ~ot a completely critique the injustices of the present system, on libertarian philosophy. Instead, they have free society; a fact that will cause it to be and ( 3) offering a program for the future that taken the more difficult route of presenting The Status Quo rejected out of hand by some libertarians. By (a) is pelitically attainable and (b) will lead to their philosophy in the context of a practical The second step in developing a national the criteria noted above, though, the system liberty. solution to the South Mrican crisis: a critique libertarian ideology is to present a purely has to be judged a valid blueprint for a of the historical base and state policies that -libertarian critique of the political status quo. libertarian future. · have produced that crisis, and of a libertarian- The widely perceived evils within' a country, There is no doubt that a canton system could based solution to it. . n which serve as sources of political unrest, must be attained far more easily than could a unitary Colorado LP As such, The Solution serves not only as a be seen as integral parts of the country· s statist libertarian state. None of the significant politi­ powerful vehicle for introducing South Afri­ political system. cal groups in South Africa advocates pure cans to libertarianism, but also as a step-by­ Part II of The Solution portrays the generally libertarianism; all could be expected to oppose Officeholders ·step model of how to develop a national statist, regimented character of the South it. Yet all could be convinced to support a Elected officials are not the only public ideology. It should be studied by libertarians in Mrican political/economic system, and pre­ canton system, based on their diversity of officials. There also are appointed officials. other countries who are seeking the most sents apartheid as merely an exaggerated ver­ views and the inability of any one_to politically Keeping track of libertarians in such offices is effective way to present their ideas. sion, for blacks only, of this system. Kendall dominate the others. as important as keeping track oflibertarians in and Louw declare bluntly that South Mrican While "no single group is representative of elected offices, and the Libertarian Party The History "blacks live in a socialist world-a-world in anything approaching the majority of the popu­ NEWS hereby urges all state parties to notify The first necessary step in developing a which everything is owned by the state .. .It is lation," each could easily become the majority the editors of such officeholders. national libertarian ideology is identifying a this which prevents [them] from progressing." in a single canton. Even supporters of apartheid In Colorado, for instance, there now are five national libertarian tradition. This is not as This- system of "black socialism" is given as could, through migration and purchase of libertarians in appoint~d public offices. hard as it sounds. Free markets and the ethics the cause of South Africa's troubles, and its property, create "whites only" and "blacks • Kenton Riggs is on the board of directors of nonaggression are natural to man; all cul­ removal is claimed as necessary to any solution. only" cantons. of the Housing Authority in the city of Lake­ tures have roots_ in them. Political power It is also necessary, in criticizing the political But would such a system result in a free wood, a · Denver suburb of some quarter­ uniformly tends toward corruption and injustice; status quo, .to deal with competing political society? It would from the beginning be freer million residents. all countries have traditions of resistance to ideologies. The authors do this by giving an than the present South African, or any other • Penn Pfiffner, LP state chair, is chairman unjust political authority. encyclopedic survey of important South Mrican existing, political system. The central govern­ of the board of the Adams County Housing Kendall and Louw begin The. Solution by political movement. They then point out that, ment would be almost non-existent by current Authority. Adams is an urban county north of chronicling black South African tribal society, first, "none of them, except for the classical standards. Canton governments, the source of Denver. whi_ch they describe as "a system of voluntary Marxists and the Afrikaner nationalists, have real power, would have that power severely • Holly Kibler is on the board of appeals in excilange and private ownership." They es­ offered concrete proposals for reform" (Marxist circumscribed by the Bill of Rights. The authors the university town of Boulder. Along with tablish' that the economically inferior position and nationalist proposals already having been list several rights of individuals that would be other members of the board, she hears chal­ of blacks in that country today is the result, not rejected); and, second, "no single group is rigidly enforced by the central government lenges to the interpretation and application, by of ethnic inferiority or of capitalism, but oflaws representative of anything approaching a against the canton governments: freedom of city officials, of the local building code. passed by the white-dominated government to majority of the population." For these reasons, movement, acquisition of property, proprietarial restrict the blacks' economic activity. • Kevin Edwards serves on the Boulder they can dismiss all competing ideologies as rights, anti-expropriation safeguards, nomina­ Mall Commission,· overseeing the issuance of Next the authors give a brief history of the "lead[ ing] to a dead end." tive boundaries, freedom to associate, referenda, vendor licenses, activity permits, and signs for dominant white South Mrican group, the and protection from victimization and intimi- a six-block downtown pedestrian mall. Mrikaners, which they summarize as "the The Solution dation. · ' history of a people's struggle to free themselves • Richard Crow has been appointed as an The final component of a national libertarian Freedom of movement and its subsidiary alternate on the board of adjustments inWood­ from government interference in their lives." ideology is a vision of the future that is rights (such as "nominative boundaries," a land. The board acts on recommendations of The Afrikaners' desire for separate develop­ compatible with both the legacy of the past and novel proposal whereby a property owner on the local zoning board. Crow and the others all ment, the root of apartheid, is explained by the critique of the present. This blueprint for a the border of two cantons could belong to believe that they may have the opportunity to them as simply the desire to be free from libertarian future must ( 1) be attainable poli­ either) would act to limit the power of cantons make a positive impact for liberty in theif external political authority; its original mani- tically, and (2) result by itself (i.e., with no in a more indirect way. All citizens could "vote positions. Libertarian Party NEWS January/February ·1987 11 Debate To Vote o-r N·ot To Vote?

The following debate i$ reprinted with derives its legitimacy from the participation in voting the minority has used coercion to rule permission from Free Marin, Kenifield, CA the democracy by the citizens. the m~jority .. The reasons that the .majority 94914-0367, $12/yr. ' A democratic "state" is like a cooperative doesn't vote are somewhat immaterial, yet the organization, in which each member has one fact remains that the minority forces the rest of vote. Typically, only asmall portion of the co­ .\lS to do things with ourlives and property that op memberships bother to vote for the board of By Julie Pfeiffer Watner we feel are wrong~ would not choose to do on directors. Does this make a co-op illegitimate? . . our own, or both. Of course not. If most members choose not to As I was driving down the highway, th~s Since only the uninformed or naive question billboard jumped out at me: "Young Am~.n- that corruption is rampant in political circles, By Fred Foldvary vote, they are letting those who do vote decide on the officials and policies. cans, please take note: VOTE AMERICA. It many seek to "put the right man" in office. When a robber points a gun at you and cries set me to thinking. Yes, let's do take note! What Let's examine that angle for a minute. Without out, "Your money or your life!" he is giving A democratic "state" is a co-operative does "vote America". ~~lly x_nean? ~at is a doubt, the "right man" can never be very you a chance to vote. An. anarchist who composed of members called "citizens," which America? Is it the pol~tic1an~ m Washin~ton, effective, He is always in-the minority and his believes that voting is immoral might think, "If· claims ultimate -ownership over an area of DC, or is it the spint of hberty and mde- hands are tied. Given that he is rare and I choose, I sanction the theft," and refuse to territory. The legitimacy of such a state, from pendence, freedom and hard work, h~mesty automatically reduced to only protesting the vote. The robber could then kill the anarchist its point of view, derives from its alleged and generosity? Despite the fact that th1s land issues he sees as wrong; he would have- no and say that at least he had given him a choice. "sovereignty" or claim to _the territory. Voting has been designated the United ~tates of choice but to compromise, as compromise is "Some choice!" you say. Certainly, it is not simply lets the members decide who will be on America, it is more accur~~~~ a question of~e inherent in the job of political office~holding. a free choice, but the issue here is whether the board of directors, or governors, making United States (the politicians and statist Most important, however, is that the Liber­ voting is immoral because it allegedly sanctions rules that apply to anyone living in that territory. bureaucracy) versus America (the order of the tarian, once in office, would use coercive or grants legitimacy to coercion. Libertarians, especially anarchists, deny that free market). means to achieve a "good" end: coercive Let's go one step further. You, along with 10 the territorial gangsters calling ·themselves a We all vote every day, in every transaction means~ because th~ _use' of ~oercion is within others, have been kidnapped. Fortunately, the "state" have any legitimate claim to the ter­ that we make in the market place: this brand the nature of pohtlcal . action; the two ~re kidnapper is a fanatical majoritarian democrat. ritory they govern. In that case, the governors over that brand, this price over the other price. inseparable. He w~uld, m essence,_ b~fo:czng He will let his victims vote on whether he of the "state" have kidnapped the land, and But, clearly, the billboard wasn't urging us me? t~ befree.. Isn t that a contr~dicti~n: ~he should set them free or kill them. If six of the those residing on the land are given the coercive . toward Iaissez-faire exchanges. It was urging entire Issue bods down ~ c_oerc1v~ly 10s1sting victims vote for freedom, he will let everyone choice, "your money, yourlife (or time injail), us to vote in the political arena. This raised a on having your way, '"':~1ch IS no_d1fferent than go. Otherwise, all die. Unfortunately, six of ·or get out." When the governors allow their disturbing question: "Is voting morally correct?" any of the other. political parties. Thus, to those kidnapped happen to be anti-voting victims to vote on how they should be robbed . . . borrow from the Stoic philosopher Zeno, "If anarchists. They refuse to vote because this or how they must act, the choosing no more Maybe some hght can b~ shed on tJ:t•s s~bJect you stoop to throw mud at the mudslingers, would sanction the kidnapping. Only five vote if we compare the x_nor~hty of V?~ng 10 · the how can we tell you apart?" sanctions the government than the choices of marketplace and voting 10 the political realm. Having the chance to choose who is going to to be set free, so the kidnapper shoots everyone the victims of the kidnapper and robber. and justifies it by saying the group as a whole Any of us would be hard P.res~ed, t':' find rule over you is like having a choice as to how could have saved itself, but chose not to. Voting can grant sanction to a government someone who was hurt ~y ~oting 10 the you will be killed, or who will kill you. It is no Of course, the whole process was immoral, when ° the vote is iri favor of coercion or market: the buyer exch~g1ng his hard-earned choice at all. The fact of the matter is that you but is it wrong for the kidnap victims to vote to candidates who favor coercion. Voting against dollars for a commodity he deems more will be killed. I choose not to vote at all in the set themselves free? It would be a grotesque coercive measures and candidates is an act of beneficial, the seller trading his p;oduct fo~ the political realm. I refuse to force my wishes on morality. that required someone to die rather self-defense against the government. The Lib­ dollars-a~ exchange both parties enter mto anyone.· I choose to give whatever influence I than save his life by voting, even under com­ ertarian Party therefore has the important role freely, and find profitable. _ may have to educating inte~ested men and pulsion. The five who voted could even have of providing the voters the choice of candidates But what about voting in the political realm? women in the profitability of a truly free some grounds for accusing the nonvoters with who stand for individual rather than state When one casts a vote in the voting booth, society. I refuse to vote for the United States, I complicity in the murder, since their refusal to sovereignty. there are a number of things which must be choose to "VOTE AMERICA." vote helped cause their death. . considered. First, never in the history of this Some who claim that voting sanctions the Berkeley activist Fred Foldvary is author of country or any other has the majority of eligible Julie Pfeiffer Watner is on the stqff of "state" presume that a democratic. "state" The Soul of Liberty. - voters voted. Thus, since the inception of Freedom Country in Campobello, SC. Federal Funds Influence Electoral Process

By John Majewski his political base in the Santa Monica area. Bennett and DiLorenzo have many exam­ and Delinquency gives millions of dollars to Hayden is not the only politician to use ples of left-liberal organizations' improper use conservative causes involved in such areas as For the last several years mariy people have federal funds successfully to further his politi­ of federal funds for political purposes, including . argued that elections are unfairly influenced by pornography and school crime. . cal interests. The Department of Education labor unions, Ralph Nader organizations, and Bennett and DiLorenzo point out that con­ political action' committees, speCial interest recommended that Jesse Jackson's People many public-policy institutes. Destroying groups, and television forecasting based on. servatives receive less tax money than liberals. United to Save Humanity (PUSH) return $1.7 Democracy presents voluminous amounts of But the fact remains that both camps use early returns. While debate on these issues million because the money was used for politi­ data to· demonstrate the existence of a well­ continues to rage, two economists have un­ federal dollars extensively. cal purposes. Indeed, one investigation revealed coordinated network of political activists that It is clearly unjust to force taxpayers and covered a new source of election fraud-your that a federal education grant was used to print obtains millions of federal dollars every year. tax· dollars. competing political interests to finance politi­ 10,000 Christmas cards bearing an autographed But as Destroying Democracy indicates, cal activities and views of which they disap­ George Mason University economists Thom­ photo ofJackson. many conservatives also use federal funds for as DiLorenzo and James Bennett argue in their prove. If we really warit to keep the electoral Perhaps a more widespread problem than political activity. The U.S. Information Agen­ process fair, we should eliminate the millions new book Destroying Democracy, published abuse by specific politicians is the tendency of cy, for example, gave the Claremont Institute by the Cato Institute, that federal funds are of dollars in subsidies to privileged political consumer groups and welfare rights organiza­ nearly half a million dollars to bring young advocacy groups. illegally used by myriad organizations to influ­ tions to use federal dollars to support political foreign conservatives to the United States. The ence the electoral process. Although used positions. For instance, the Food Research ·conservative American EnterPrise Insptute predominantly by the left, DiLorenzo and John Majewski is a fellow of the Institute and Action Center (FRAC), which receives receives over $200,000 annually from the for Humane Studies at George Mason Uni- Bennett have found that conservatives also use two-thirds of its money from federal gr~nts, p;ovemment. And the Office of Juvenile Justice versity. · federal funds to advance their cause. calls itself an "o.rganizing tool for poor people Meticulously resear~hed and documented, ' and their allies to create meaningful social ' Destroying Democracy shows convincingly ) changes." An important part ofFRAC's agenda Writing 'Op-Ed' Pieces that millions of federal dollars apparently is. to organize. a "fair budget campaign" to . · allocated to help the poor or improve· foreign · educate people on the "devastating effects of "The following are points to consider (4) Avoid sarcasm. Don't use jargon uniess relations actually finance political propaganda. the Reagan budget policies." when writing "Op-Ed" articles: you define it. Jargon includes such words DiLorenzo and Bennett reveal that millions Another organization using federal funds for ( 1) The lead should draw the reader into the as "negative-sum games," "marginal cost," ofdollars in program grants are also illegally ideological pufPoses is the Association of story. Take extra time to make it interesting. and "market-clearing price." used by political candidates. For example, Community Organizations for Reform Now The lead should relate to a current news (5) You must bolster your argument with California politician Tom Hayden used gov­ (ACORN). As an organization ostensibly cie­ event or a topical issue. facts. The more vivid and conrete your ernment housing and crime prevenlion grants signed to help the poor, ACORN receives (2) An open-minded, intelligent reader who examples, the better. Do not make con­ to rally grass-roots support for rent control laws hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal is uninformed about the topic should be able troversial assertions without supplying as part of his Campaign for Economic Derner grants. But ACORN spends much of its money to follow your reasoning .. (Think of "your evidence. cracy. Hayden has also channeled tax dollars in the political arena. An ACORN publication mother the librarian"-will she follow the ( 6) If your article is longer than three and a in the form of. solar energy grants into policy referred to local chapters holding meetings "to logic and find the facts persuasive?) half double-spaced pages, it is too long. institutes that support his call to socialize kick off our involvement in the 1984 presi­ (3) Writing should be tight. Make each oil and gas energy. According to DiLorenzo dential campaign" to show the public that point clearly and only once, except for a -Jane S. Shaw and Richard L Stroup · and Bennett, such funds played an important "ACORN members are ready to work hard to restatement at the end, if appropriate. Political Economy Research Center part in Hayden's successful attempt to build beat Reagan next year." 12 .January/February 1987 Libertarian Party NEWS . Letters to· the Editor ~·

Continued from Page 5 Libya; furthermore, he ordered us to seli our oil . they couldn;t get by! And it wasn't because of, controls, for heaven's sake. If you mentioned Nicaragua properties there, despite whatever financial mismanagement of funds: "The destruction of" .. AUstrian economics in 1971' people thought · I just read Bill Birmingham's letter in your loss that sale might incur. the middle class" is brought to mind. _We might you meant Bruno Kreisky's socialism, if they Sept./Oct. 1986 issue. He refers therein to the We are no longer allowed to buy gold coins be a bit more sophisticated and point out that thought anything. Privatization? School vouch­ issue of supporting Contra aid "for hiring. from some countries or bananas from others. this is, as many, many people, including former ers? Deregulation? Tax cuts? For the looks mercenaries to murder Nicaraguans and crush We must now buy our bananas from Canada Treasury Secretary William Simon, and others, you'd get, you may as well have been telling their revolution." It is this last phrase that I which gets them from Nicaragua. This is the have said, just the inevitable payments for past people you were from the planet Gorgulak. But found most perplexing. Does Mr. Birmingham year we were told by the Supreme Court that and present government excesses coming due these ideas, incubated in libertarian or quasi­ really believe that what Nicaragua now has in discrimination because of race can be used to in hundreds of sneaky little ways. libertarian think tanks, were introduced-into the way of a society constitutes the revolution combat other discrimination because of race. If we wish to capitalize on this growing the political debate by the LP, and today are of the Nicaraguan people? If anything, it is the An additional one percent of our disposable group, we might begin by asking a few questions. part and parcel of mainstream political debate, betrayal of the revolution that had been income was taken by the State for whatever use For example, why has the work week remained ifnot policy. Other, more radical issues are now promised to them by a gang of Marxist/Leninist they had for it and our young people were at 40 hours per week over the past five decades filtering into the public arena in the same thugs. declared second class citizens with lJ.O right to during a period when capital investment and manner-abolitionofmandatoryschooling,an This is a separate matter from whether the make their personal decisions regarding al­ productivity have grown at an unprecedented end to victimless crime laws, sale of govern­ U.S. government should send money from the cohol. Kansas is considering going into the rate? Why do increasingly large numbers of ment lands, private roads, and more. Fifteen taxpayers to aid the Contras. One can oppose gambling business in November but will put families have to have both parents working to years ago, such topics were not open to the latter without falling victim to the self­ the citizen in jail if he does likewise. maintain a slipping standard of living? Why discussion in polite company. aggrandizing rhetoric in which the current They put a cap on the damages that you can has the optimism of this whole century that · Of course, cause and effect get mixed up in Nicaraguan state of affairs is seen to be get if, when you go in for an appendectomy, children would grow up in a more affiuent these things. Are these issues being debated desirable. someone mistakenly cuts off something impor­ society be.en replaced with the opposite ex- becauseoftheLP,ordoestheLPexistbecause tant. While you are there they now want you to pectation in the '80s? Why hasn't this made people were ready to debate these issues? I Tibor R. Machan wee-wee in a bottle. And Mr. Meese will write more people angry? But then, maybe it has! suspect both relationships exist. The question Auburn, AL you threatening letters if your store sells any The news segment suggested "new collar is, would libertarian ideas be having the same dirty pictures. workers' " anger hasn't been expressed politi- impact if there were no LP,-ifwe alljust packed Unity Indeed, 1986 has not been a good year for cally yet. Good-:-because I've been angry our bags and joined the GOP, or, what the The Libertarian Party of Florida has be-. freedom in Kansas. about this for years. It'll be nice to have heck, went home, read Ayn Rand, and watched come a political organization with the goal of While I am always delighted by celebrations company. TV? · creating a libertarian society. We are still small of freedoms, I do think it advisable to have a It seems to me this is a natural libertarian Or we can make an "organized entry" into and still poor, but we are united in our goal and subsequent "Day of Mourning"· to remember constituency. As you may know, Neil Smith~ one of the other parties. Of course, Michael agree on the steps. to be taken next. Philo­ freedoms lost. author of The Probability Broach, claims that Harrington did that with his Socialists a while sophical bickering has been put aside. We will without the direct and indirect costs of gov- back, and the Democrat Party has been moving argue each step when it is time to take that Douglas N. Merritt emment intervention, we inhabitants of the slowly away from socialism ever since. By step, not before. With aclear goal and a series Atchison, KS arbitrarily defined geographical area called working outside the other parties, we are not of steps leading to it, we have a program that "The United States of America" would have left with supporting their candidates in the anyone of libertarian leanings can support. Fourth School eight times the spendable income we now have. general elections. How many press conferences Those who help with time or money need not In her article on the "Nobel Prize in Eco­ That translates into a five hour work week to did Dick Randolph hold this fall? Dick was be concerned that their efforts are wasted on a nomics" (Nov./Dec. 1986), Jennifer Roback maintain your current standard of living. Neil more effective in the legislature· as a Liber­ debating club. We have started a membership stated that with "Buchanan's Nobel, all three does have some convincing arguments and ball tarian than as a Republican, and received more ';tl'- and fundraising drive in preparation for the major free-market schools of thought have park figures to back this up but they probably votes, and more media attention for libertarian 1988 elections. Each hour, each dollar, will go been recognized by the Nobel committee," the wouldn't stand up to the rigorous attacks the ideas, as an LP candidate than as a Republican. to building a free society. thre~_being tile Austrian,_tbe Chicago (mone­ implications oLthis .assertion are bound to . tarist), and Virginian (public choice) ... she attract. This needs to be backed up with Brad Smith Charles T. Manhart omitted the fourth free-market school of eco­ appropriate figures and research, and would be Dallas, TX Chair, LP of FL nomic thought, the classical school... a major path to tap "new collar workers" as Yet clearly the classical school qualifies on well as other groups. How about it, all you libertarians out there? Government Giving? all three grounds. The school of thought goes back to the French physiocrats, who coined the Time Is Money Senator Robert Dole, speaking in regard to a term "laissez faire." Well-known classical­ Rick White new tax bill, boilsted of what a great thing they school economists include Adam Smith, Ricardo, Las Vegas; NV By M.ike Pierone were doing for the common man: "When we and Henry George. Furthermore, this free­ It has been said that freedom can be bought give them that much money to spend it will be a . market school never died out, but continues IRS Recruiters only with the blood of patriots, but I believe we tremendous boost to the economy." today with economists and ·publications, in- Who'd thunk it? The Internal Revenue Ser­ can purchase some measure of it for less. The Correct me if I'm· wrong· but don't most cluding the classical-libertarian quarterly, vice may tum out to be the top LP recruiter for problem is that while most of us, like myself, Americans work within the framework of a Fragments. Though one of the minor schools 1987. are quite prepared to dedicate our time to market system for every penny they earn? The today (not to be confused with the neoclassical Have all you letters-to-the-editor writers out further freedom, we, like myself, do.not always exception to this rule being employees of the .school), its influence on economics in general there seen the new IRS W-4 withholding have the necessary cash. Since we all have federal government! All employees ... pay a has been immense. Libertarians such as Albert forms? talents and abilities, there can be another way hefty chunk of their income to the government JayNock, authorofOurEnemytheState, and Bye now ... l'm off to my ink well, my type­ to generate capital from our collective talents. in the form of income taxes. This income tax · Frank Chodorov (Fugitive Essays) have been writer, my word processor... time to get busy ... What I propose quite simply is a trade pays the salaries of all government employees, of the classical school. between Libertarian Party members to the one of which is Senator Bob Dole. This being As a classical-school adherent, I think the Leo Alman benefit of the Party. If you cannot afford to the case, how can Senator Dole and his cronies ignorance about the classical school reflects Pittsburgh, P A purchase liberty with dollars, do it with your give us something which in fact we gave them, poorly on the libertarian movement. We have ·time! albeit involuntarily, but we usually give it to no grounds for complaining that society does For example, assume we have an LP mem­ them anyway. Theycangiveitbackortheycan not pay attention to our ideas when we ignore Winning Big· ber who needs some typing done. Rather than give a little of it back which is what they seem to one of the economic schools of our libertarian It can be discouraging-the endless war pay a temporary, this person could pay the be doing in this case. Something ain't quite heritage. against state ballot non-access laws, pleading NJLP who would provide an LP member right here. I wonder if Senator Dole sees it that Fred Foldvary for coverage from a disinterested media, trying willing to donate the requisite time in typing way? Somehow, I think not. Berkeley, CA to explain freedom to an often apathetic public. skills, in exchange for a pledge for future I can see why some think we're losing. But services from someone else. J. Edgar Culberson they're wrong. We are winning. Winningbig. _ I am asking all members who run your own Melbourne, FL Look at all we've accomplished. As an business or need a job done to call or write me New Collars electoral party, we have come from nothing to a first. Likewise, if you want to commit some \ Uberty Year? A . recent TV news segment identified a clear position as America's third party. In time rather than money then get in touch. Let's I have enjoyed immensely the wonderful potential new political constituency. It called 1988, our presidential candidate will be on the . create' a Clearing house for our 'members that celebration of the Statue of Liberty and I agree this group "new collar workers" and suggested ballot in over 30 states for the fourth con­ benefits the Party and its members. This is a wholeheartedly with the proposition that the it ·could· easily become the basis of a new secutive election. Only two other parties have good way to make important contacts, get to United States is indeed the Land of the Free. political revolution in the next decade. The done that in my lifetime. know each other,' and· advance the cause of I have heard speeches of pride, principle, segment also pointed out that no political party If our growth as an electoral vehicle has been freedom. and freedom. is prepared to tap "new collar workers." slow but dogged, our growth as a policy vehicle If we want liberty we must pay for it. Here is No one talked at all about what has actually The characterization of this group was quite has been meteoric. These days it is all but an opportunity for even the poorest of us to happened this year in Kansas. interesting. It suggested that for this group, cliche to say that the Sociaiist Party has been contribute. Already donated is a day of time 1986 was the year we were ordered to fasten unemployment wasn't the problem. In fact, the most influential party of this century, with from the computer consultant who also con­ our seat belts, and "No more happy-hour." quite the contrary. Often both family members virtually all of the tum-of-the-century Socialist tributed this idea-somebody out there call me The Supreme Court now allows the bureau­ work. The couple interviewed in the segment platform now public policy in the U.S. Today, and take advantage. Let's make this idea work! crats into our bedrooms with their video were both employed. The woman was a teacher, the LP plays that role. Pierone is a Sussex County organizer for cameras to make sure everything is done so-so. the man a carpenter. The problem was that Remember the state of political debate when the LP ofNewJersey. His proposal is reprinted Our President restricted our right to travel to even with two jobs and an income over $20,000 the LP was founded? We had wage and price from the "New Jersey Libertarian. " Libertarian P~rty NEWS January/February/ 1987 13

sketchy knowledge culled from memories of Civic Clubs Offer Opportunities newspapers. Another election-time pay-off of civic club work is that Libertarian candidates in the appropriate races have the opportunity in For Free Market Alternatives their statements to the press and in candidate forums to endorse the civic club resolutions By Barry Klein . ter that his knowledge of Roberts is still Once the civic club has assumed a Liber- which call for free market solutions to com­ incomplete). It is useful reputation to have. tarian position a separate motion should be munity problems. In this way they will show a Part of being a Libertarian, in my opinion, is a Bylaws committee work and. the study of passed instructing the corresponding secretary practical knowledge of c~mmunity affairs and the conviction that many-community concerns Robert's Rules of Order is not difficult espe­ to send copies to the appropriate officials and an awareness of the desires of ordinary citizens. now administered to by one or more govern­ cially if one has made the acquaintance of to the media. (The Libertarian activist may !hey are not likely to be perceived as unrealistic ment entities can be better handled by indi­ members of the National Association of Par­ have to volunteer to prepare .these notices to 1dealogues preaching airy theory, which has viduals in private voluntary associations. Civic liamentarians. This group includes professional ensure that the news is effectively announced.) been a problem .in the past. clubs are the perfect expression of this idea, parliamentarians as well as many hobbyists The more people who learn of the endorsement By tying their platform to such resolutions, and it is my experience that libertarian ideas who simply enjoy the study and practice of of free market ideas the better. For one thing, Libertarians will gain a credential they usually are easily advanced in this setting. I believe parliamentary procedure. They are often avail­ other civic clubs may find the resolutions lack. Libertarian candidates who are also civic ·all Libertarians should join one or more civic useful as models for resolutions of their own. In club activists will have credentials which are clubs. able for hire on an hourly basis. Many are so ready to be of service that they gladly work for addition, formal presentations on. the issues . much better. The very best credentials, nat­ Civic clubs are primarily designed to ad­ expenses or for- free-particularly when the may be made to other civic elubs with a request orally, will be held by the activists who have vance or defend the interests of geographic a consultation is by phone. Local chapters of the for a vote in support of the resolutions. If put themselves at the forefront of their civic area such as a neighborhood. In fewer cases NAP have monthly meetings where novices successful, the news should be spread far and club's publicity for resolutions and who have civic clubs address a particular community can meet parliamentarians and practice. One wide. Do everything possible to help the ideas carried the resolutions from club to club looking problem (such as pollution) and gather their can call the NAP headquarters to be put in catch fire. · for support. They become widely respected for membership area-wide. When Libertarians are touch with local chapters and units (phone The publicity is good for the club, too. It can their civic club work. involved in civic clubs their opinion and anal­ 816-531-1735 in Kansas City. MO). become prominent: The media, politicians, Many people active in Democratic and ysis can be very effective. Our perspective Civic clubs, like all organizations, appoint neighborhood businesses, churches and other Republican politics join civic clubs. Their forces us to be creative in attacks on com­ committees to study the difficult issues. It is in institutions, ana government bureaucrats be- political activism becomes part oftheir identity munity problems because we are not bound by the committee work that Libertarian activists come respectful and cooperative. Membership in their clubs. So it should be with Libertarians. the habit oflooking to government for solutions. can make the greatest impact. For instance, a will increase. Libertarianism needs to be perceived by more During club discussions we can -Jffer data and club may create committees to consider neigh­ The study and thought a committee member people as an- ordinary part of the political pertinent examples from Reason magazine, borhood problems such as a poorly-managed must invest results in a high level of knowledge landscape and an acceptable alternative to the Cutting Back City Hall by Robert Poole, local city garbage collection department or an inade­ and a lasting understanding of the issues on usual political choices. Familiarity breeds ac- publications, and other sources which will not ' quate city--regulated taxi service. A Libertarian which the committee is focused. ceptability. · f otherwise be heard. committee member in the first case can raise A member should mention that experience This identity as a Libertarian will stimulate I find it odd that while many Libertarians are as he identifies himself whenever discussing questions about one:s political philosophy. veritable experts on every civic question, be­ the examples of the Wichita and Atlanta systems of competitive garbage collection. In those issues in a public forum. His opinion will The .occasions arise during the coffee-and­ cause of years of thought and reading on social lr the second case a Libertarian can raise the case be received with the heightened respect it c?o!ci~s part of the meeting, during the so­ matters, astonishingly few participate in or­ deserves. Also; membership in an important c1ahzmg that often follows a meeting and I ganizations where their knowledge and under­ of Washington, DC, which sets no limit on its number ofcabs and has the highest number of committee, like membership in a civic club, is a during work sessions on club projects. These standing can be brought to bear in a useful cabs in the country per I ,000 population. Each political asset worthy of mention in a candi- are the opportunities that develop new sym­ fashion. Libertarian in his respective committee can date 's resume. pathizers and activists. Many civic club mem- The cost of participation in a civic club is one In the course of time one becomes ac- bers have a reformer's bent, as do Libertarians, night a month plus one or two more nights for suggest a resolution calling for a free market style change in the· current system. · qu~i~ted wi~h a great many other community so ~eatf!lo~pher~ is cordial to new ideas, and those willing to do committee work. Twelve - Resolutions proposed in situations such as actlVlsts of every stripe. This familiarity with the ground IS fertile. nights a year is only three percent of one's these wjll often need to be inventive, so that the personalities in the fore and backgi-ound of I hope this article encourages others to evening time but Libertarians who feelthey are they genuinely contain the free market and civil community politics means that one has a quick follow suit. Six months is all the time one needs too busy to be active with a club should join liberties principles but don't fully challenge the grasp of political developments in the com- to become a prominent civic activist. one (at least) anyway. The bulk of every status quo. Proposals for small-scale "experi­ organization is dormant. However, simply munity. There is substantial satisfaction in this mental" change will be much more successful holding a membership is being an "active" knowledge. Plus, the Libertarian activist who than ones for wholesale radical change. Most Barry Klein is a member of over half a member which is a useful status to have if one becomes a candidate for public office armed people will not endorse abrupt and utter aban­ dozen civic clubs in the Houston area. This expects to be a political candidate someday. with this ability is much more formidable than donment of a system. Furthermore, civic clubs article appeared originally in Free Texas, the In the meantime one receives the club's the Libertarian candidate who can only ground are not designed for full-scale philosophical LP paper of that state. newsletter so that one learns the club's history his public comment in free market theory and debates on the proper role of government as itdevelops with the passing months. And, at which a radical proposal would incite. (Later, some point when orie's schedule relaxes or an when the resolution is placed before govern­ issue arises that prompts participation, one has ment officials, it is much more likely to be the credential of being a long-term member. Scoring a Point for Individualism accepted. Once the free market experiment It is easy to become an influential and proves itself, the civic club can pass resolutions effective member of a civic club. Very few civic For anyone looking for a pointed way to set opt/or this collective system ofgrading calling for expansion of the innovations.) club members attend meetings and even fewer students to thinking about individualism and will have their grades pooled, with each Since it is unlikely that a member on either accept committee assignments. Therefore, anyc . collectivism, a long-time libertarian, Butler member ofthe group receiving an iden­ a committee or of the general membership one who regularly attends meetings will be Shaffer, has ccme up with an idea tailor-made tical grade. For example, if three stu­ would have serious objections to experimental respectfully heard and those who accept com­ for the classroom. Here's a form that Shaffer dents (A, B, C) choose this collective adjustments to a failing system, resolutions mittee work quickly become leaders. Members distributes to his students at the beginning of method ofgrading, and if, on the final such as the ones above should pass without in the smaller clubs are likely to be an officer each school year: exam, A receives a "65, "B a "75, "and difficulty. During debate prior to passage of the within a year or two of joining. The undersigned, a student in Prof. C an "85, "these. three grades will be resolution a Libertarian may wish to speak in Immediately upon joining a civic club one Shaffer's " course averaged, and each student in the group favor of a resolution this way: "I favor this should ask for a set ofthe bylaws. A copy of the at Southwestern University School of will receive a "75" for the course. resolution regarding our garbage problem not 1981 Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised Law, does hereby agree to have my Students who opt/or the individualized just because I believe it is wrong for our (about $16.00) should be acquired as well. grade for this course determined ac­ grading system will not, ofcourse, have government to do the job of private industry or With both in hand one can learn quickly one's cording to the following system I have their grades computed into this col- to limit a low income person's options to go chosen cifter having had both options lective system ofgrading. · rights and obligations as a member. Most into business, but because we have clear organizations from habit and ignorance slight explained to me. Each system will in­ Along with the options for grading, Prof. evidence that this idea can work and we should the correct form of Robert's Rules of Order. corporate, by reference, the evaluation Shaffer has been using a questionnaire which try it." In civic clubs, practical arguments tend When an organization is ·disregarding the in­ criteria set forth in the Syllabu~for this seeks to elicit either collectivist or individu­ to be the most persuasive but in this way one course. It is understood that I may, at alistic answers. In his classes of, typically, 50 tent of Robert's Rule of Order the knowl­ can put the moral concepts before people. edgeable member should raise a point of order. any time prior to the last day ofclass/or students, about 40 percent start out giving The -fatiguing part of clubwork grows from The moral perspective is more easily raised this course, revoke this agreement and fashionable collectivist answers' to questions excessively sloppy procedure which hampers during committee discussion. But even then opt for the other grading system. about whose responsibility it is to regulate this an organization's decision-making ability. An hardcore attitudes and blunt expression of ( 1) Individual Determination of Grade. and that or. to accomplish good worKs. equally serious problem is that of careless and them such as "All taxation is theft" will be My grade will be determined solely on Yet, when it comes to something that con­ lazy officers who neglect their duties. The alert unsuccessful. Effective Libertarian activists the basis ofthe grade I receive/or work cretely affects their lives-the gtading option­ member who knows the rules knows when' to will learn to fashion gentle presentations of done by me. My grade will be neither Prof. Shaffer reports that only once has he had stand to call attention to a problem. their more startling ideas. increased nor decreased by any other as may as two students in a single class opt for After working in the club awhile, the serious A'f-actor which eases passage of committee , students'grades, but will be based solely the collective scoring procedure. In that case, member will realize that the bylaws have one sponsored resolutions is that they are proposed on my own peiformance. For example, one of the two came back in a few days asking or more serious flaws. It is a universal problem by leaders of the club. The bulk of the member­ if/ receive a "75" on thefinal examfor to switch to the individual scoring procedure. and an excellent opportunity for the activist to ship is inclined to let the leaders have and do this course, my course grade will be a In all other cases, Prof. Shaffer says, not more volunteer to be chair of a bylaws revision whiit they want. Serious objections would be "75... than one person per class chose the collective committee. By the time he makes his report he raise~ only if a resolution calls for a large (2) Collective, Group-Averaged Deter­ course, so that those students who did so will be recognized as the club expert on the expenditure of club money or membership mination of grade. My grade will be choose· became responsible for their own marks bylaws and parliamentary procedure (no mat- time. determined as.follows: All students who whether they wanted to or not. 14 January/February 1987 Ubertarian Party NEWS Business Profile Merchandising Libertarian Goods, Ideas

A catalog that combines a slick, upscale look the successful campaign to obtain ballot status and polished pewter collectibles, games such hature and consequences of any and all gov­ with the ideas of Adam Smith, Albert Jay for the LP in Alabama. ' as the revolutionary "1776'~ and "Stick the ernment policies pertaining to important public Nock, and Murray Rothbard is now in circula­ As ·a vice president of the Cato Institute, IRS," all-silkThomas Jefferson and Statue of issues, regardless of momentary political or tion. Featuring nearly 400 books, audio tapes, Theroux organized its academic program of Liberty neckties, Liberty T-shirts, and books social biases and fashions, to redefine the video tapes, games, neckties, novelties, and research, book and monograph publication, such as the Pentagon Catalog of military cost debate over public issues, and to foster new and other gift items, the libertyTree catalog is the newsletters, and conferences. More recently, overruns; Dreams Come Due, a new lexicon of effective alternatives to statism. leading edge of one of two new ventures he established a highly effective program for antidotes to the ills of government by "John The Institute's research program is being created by a San Francisco libertarian entre­ the original Pacific Institute, including a book Galt"; The Entrepren,eurs, based on the new overseen by the distinguished libertarian-econo­ preneur, David J. Theroux. program on dozens of major social, economic, fall TV. series; How to Pay Zero Taxes; mist, Dr. M. Bruce Johnson, Professor of The first organization is the mass-marketing and environmental problems. Making Europe Unconquerable; and How to Economics, University of California, Santa firm, libertyTree Network, which combines Leaving Pacific Institute early this year, he Be Your Own Lawyer. There is also a selection Barbara, who until recently had also teamed up the themes of. individual liberty, free markets, set out to establish an ideal model oflibertarian of scores of audio and video tapes which with Theroux. in organizing the Pacific Insti­ enterprise; self-reliance, privatization, and entrepreneurship. Within a few months, he had includes programs on entrepreneurial success _ tute's program. Johnson is assisted at Inde­ peace for a merchandising theme of "Products completely organized a limited partnership to and self-defense. · pendent by a board of advisors which includes for Your life, Liberty, and Prosperity." fund the venture, and had assembled the entire Those who want aLibet;:yTree catalog can such renowned scholars as Thomi:is Borcher­ Theroux's second venture is a new libertarian catalog enterprise. With operations in Phoenix, receive a complimentary copy by writing to ding, Robert Crandall, Arthur Ekirch, Jr., think tank, the Independent Institute. . the LibertyTree Catalog was mailed to 400,000 LiberyTree Network, 1142 West Indian School Ronald Hamowy, Donald McCloskey, Bruce this falL An annual distribution of from one to Russett, Richard Stroup, Gordon Tullock, As an entrepreneur, Theroux has successfully Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013, or by phoning 602-, three million is planned, making it probably the 241-9594. Richard Wagner, and Sir Alan Walters. applied his own vision and approach to "liber­ Having recently sponsored a reception for tarian activism in successfully orgamzing pro­ · largest-scale enterprise to market libertarian-. oriented products to the general public. The Independent Institute, with offices- in the free market development economist Peter grams ranging from student organizations, con­ San Francisco, will specialize in pursuing in­ T. Bauer (Lord Bauer) from the London ventions, scholarly research, seminars, media Theroux seeks to provide the knowledge, depth, interdisciplinary studies of serious, yet School of Economics, the ·Independent Iristi­ events, and supper clubs to periodical publica­ motivation, and opportunity for budding entre­ neglected, pu~lic issues such as government's tute plans to sponsor four books plus one or tions, book publishing, and political campaigns. preneurs to develop quality products which can role in higher education, the complex issues of more m·ajor conferences per year. Further As an early member of the Libertarian Party, he then be effectively distributed to new markets toxic waste liability, artd U.S. foreign inter­ information may be obtained by writing the ·was instrumental in helping to organize the LP in through LibertyTree: · ventionism. The Independent Institute's pro­ Independent Institute, 847 Sansome Street, California, Louisiana, and Illinois, and organized Products range from Statue of Liberty crystal gram is designed to .critically analyze the San Francisco, CA 94111.

THE BUDGET OFFICE SAVS THE 1987 DEFICIT WILL TOO HIGH, Economic Considerations MlSS THE TARC'aET SET 1N OF COURSE. THE GRAMM•RUDMAN LAW BY t 3Q,O~OO~OOO. Of Providing Day Care SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT TOO HIGH OR OPPORTUNITY FOR TOO LOW? CONGRESS. By Michael Walker from the place of work. F: or some corporations, i - Uke Campbell Soups, it has also meant a better ·' One of the central economic issues of the rapport with employees and the ability to hire next few years, and an important potential people ·who would otherwise not have been OFFICE OF OFFICE OF policy plank for the next federal election, will 'THE BUD&ET available. 'THE BlJD&ET be the issue of universal, subsidized day care. I Undoubtedly, these facilities enhance both ltiFICIT·TA11la.l'niiiC. 'IFtCIT-TAt~~.a.I'TIIIIC want, therefore, to make a pre-emptive strike the economic circumstances of the companies ~_o . as it were, and get some of the economic issues and the employees and also make a net contri­ 0 FA out on the table. ot-!: bution to society's well being. Recent debate QQ ..---- . First, we have to distinguish clearly between and two-reports on day care have focused on zO•0-. ..._, ..._, 00 three forms of day care. The most prevalent another sort of day care, namely universal day lAI: -- an(j, at the moment, most important is child care provided by goveniment. Unfortunately, ... ~· care in the home by the parents. The other two such a system does not have all the harmonious tJ:i are privately-provided day care and government­ features of private day care. The main reason is provided day care. In the case of home day care OPPORTUNITY? AND TO THINK HOW that it is designed precisely to thwart the very L~ia•" and privately-provided care, the costs are economic calculus which makes private day ... 0~ THEY U.SED TO FOC.U$ borne almost exclusively by the parents. In the o~c TO .SHifiiT TAXPAYeRS' ON TM'e SIZE. OF care sensible. case of publicly-provided care, some but not all Under private provision, parents deciding Llll .. ATT!NTION FROM THE THE ACTUAL BUDGET•. ofthe costs are providedfrom tax revenue and SI'%E OF "TNII DEFICIT - whether one or the other or· neither should -~· the costs are therefore not directly borne by the remain at home would simply not have to TO HOW TO BRING ntE user. tt

' '

_.l Libertarian Party NEWS January/February 1987 15 NatCom Representatives/State Chairs

Massachusetts State Chair NatCom Representative Joe Coyle Oklahoma State Chair REGION 11 Vernon Etzel REGION 1 REGION 5 18 Campbell Ave. G. Dennis Garland Indiana, Kentucky, 12A Rector Court Arizona, Neyada, New Leominster, MA 01453 Alaska 909 N.W. 30 Wilmington, DE 19810 Ohio 617-534-5006 (h) NatCo.m Representative Mexico, Hawaii Oklahoma City, OK 73118 302-475·7380 (h) Chuck House . ,, . NatCom Representative 405·525-0909 (h) NatCom Representative 617-486-6993 (o) Stephen L. Dasbach · P.O. Box .60486 Dale Pratt 405·235-0528 (o) New Hampshire State Chair 215 W. Third Street Delaware State Chair Fairbanks; AK 99706 1400 Kapiolani Blvd., C-29 Howard Wilson, Jr. REGION 8 Fort Wayne, IN 46808 Vernon Etzel 800-426-5183 (o) Honolulu, HI 96814 Box 91 Iowa, Minnesota; 219-422·5631 (h) 12A Rector Court 808-946-6562 (o) Wilmington, DE 19810 Andover, NH 03216 Alaska State Chair Nebraska, North Dakota, 603-735-5427 (h) Indiana State Chair 302-475-7380 (h) Gene Hawkridge South Dakota, Wisconsin 11935 Rainbow Ave. NatCom Repr.esentative Dr. Walter Weeks Rhode Island State Chair 2424 Sycamore Lane New Jersey State Chair Anchorage, AK 99516 Arizona State Chair Karl H. Wetzel Richard Henderson 907-345-7111 (h) 9468 Western Plaza, #5 W. Lafayette, IN 47906 Richard L. Duprey Peggy Jeney 32 Lorraine St. 907-274·6551 (o) Omaha, NE 68114 317·463·6219 2 Ida Lane Barrington, Rl 02806 HC 31, Box 152 Waldwick, NJ 07463 402·390-1195 (h) 401-247-2068 (h) Prescott, AZ 86301 Kentucky State Chair 201-445-6098 (h) . Alaska Executive Director ·-· · 402·398·6610 (o) 401·849·3310 (o) Angelo Artuso 602·776-0737 (h) Mitch Wayne · Vermont State Chair Box 104073 4013 Hayfield Way Pennsylvania State Chair Nevada State Chair Iowa State Chair Edward B. McGuire Jr. Anchorage, AK 99510 Pospect, KY 40059 . Henry E. Hailer, Ill Daniel Becan Timothy Hird 18 Brisson Court 907-' - ~"'ry (h) 502-228-1829 (h) P.O. Box 12214 7502 sw 17th 217 S. Homewood Ave. Winooski, VT 05404 ,.. '""\ Pittsburgh, PA 15208 Reno, NV 89510 Des Moines, lA 50315 Ohio State Chair 802-655-3153 (h) ,,,.. ,/1 412-241·5810 . . I.0~-786-3329 (h) 515-285·7942 (h) David C. Myers Minnesota State Chair 9208 Johnnycake Road REGION 18/19 !'tew 114<~bState'tehair Fred Hewitt Mentor, OH 44060 REGION 15 Arkansas, Florida, ;r-:.;;·- Frank.Clin'ard 545 Chapel Lane 216-255-8112 (h) District of Columbia, Georgia, North Carolina, 2e40 Arizona Av.e. . j; Eagan, MN 55121 Maryland, West Virginia South Carolina, l.!bs Alamos, NM 87544 612·454-2115 (h) .~ Tennessee, Virginia "' 505·662·4951. (h) NatCom Representative \~l-. - . Nebraska State Chair Paul Kunberger NatCom Representative · '-~HaWaii~ Chair REGION David Saum Karl H. Wetzel 12 3905 Bexley Place S1ase HarriS 5597 Seminary Rd. 9468 Western Plaza, #5 Alabama, Louisiana, Marlow Hts., MD 20746 '222 S. Vii'leyard St.,#304 No. 2412 South ,/ Omaha, NE 68114 Mississippi 301~899-6933 (h). HonoJO.•)tJ, HI 96813 Falls Church, VA 22041 AJ·Avei: 808-521-3312 (h) 402·390-1195 (h) NatCom Representative District of Columbia Chair 703~820-7696 (h) . ., GA 94303 · 808·524-2575 (o) 402·398-6610 (o) Christopher W. Albright Paul Jacob A-Q140(h) · 177 Chatsworth Street Scott Kbhlhass 101 G Street SW 9112 Sweet Spice Ct. REGION 6 Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Springfield, VA 22152 Lyn Sapowsky·Smith Nortt) Dakota State Chair 504-387·0000 (h) A-214 . (Acting) Colorado, Utah, Montana Kristian Brekke 703·866-3074 (h) Washington, D.C. 20024 202·546-0200 (o) ·'¥.1- Inner Circle NatCom Representative 1610 Lewis Boulevard 202-484·8064 (o) Rfidwood City, CA 94062 Hugh Butler Grand Forks, NO 58201 Arkansas State Chair . ~-...,_ . Alabama State Chair 202-396-8360 (h) 2152 Highland Dr. 701-746-6823 (h) Alan Lindsay Califorr'll~-. ··~-.Jhair. · Salt Lake City, UT 841 06 Frank Monachelli Maryland State Chair P.O. Box ·15305 Mark Hinkle 801·484-4300 (o) 's~uth Dakota state Chair 1157 11th Ave. South I mad-ad-Dean Ahmad Little Rock, AR 72231 7178 Via Colina 801-484-4357 (h) Spencer C. Nessen Birmingham, AL 35205 4323 Rosedale Ave. San Jose, CA 95139 750 Nicollet, SW 205-322·2991 (h + o) Bethesda, MD 20814 Florida State Chair 408·227·1459 (h) Colorado State Chair Huron, SD57350 301·951·0539 (h/o) Charles Manhart Penn R. Pfiffner 605·352-4682 (h) Rt. 3, Box 720 State Headquarters 8823 Circle Drive Louisiana State Chair West Virginia State Chair Callahan, FL 32011 Bob Lehman Westminster, CO 80030 Wisconsin State Chair Chris Fielder 904-879-3235 (h) State Coordinator 303-427-4357 (h) Lee McConaghy Christopher W. Albright P.O. Drawer 1760 Florida State Headquarters 3610 West 6th St. Apt. 205 . 177 Chatsworth St< Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Shepherdstown, WV 25443 210 N. Park Ave. Suite #531. Colorado State 7300 W. Southridge Dr. 304-263-5440 (h) Los Angeles, CA 90020 Headquarters Greenfield, WI 53220 504-387-0000 (h) Room #10 213·389·3358 (h/o) 2186 Holly, No. 207·8 414-282-5763 (h) REGION 16 Winter Park, FL 32789 Denver, CO 80222 414-482-1200 (o) Mississippi State Chair 305-628-2337 REGION New York 3 303-753-6789 ·William Mullendore Florida Executiviil Oregon, Washington REGION 9 631 s: Broadway NatCom Representative Administrator Greenville, MS 38701 William P. McMillen NatCom Utah State Chair Illinois Marian St. Pierre Repre~entative 601-334-2000 (h) 55 Chestnut St. H.W. "Skip" Barron, Jr. Robert M. Waldrop LP of Florida NatCom Representative Rensselaer, NY 12144 7727 26th Ave., NW P.O. Box 6175 Suite 530 Gerry Walsh . 51 8-463·8242 (h). Seattle,. WA 98117 Salt Lake City, UT 84106 4310 S. Semoran . 801·262~1129 (h/o) 789 Overland Ct. · REGION 13 Orlando, FL 32822 206·789·4812 (h) Roselle, IL 60172 N·ew York State Chair­ Texas Georgia State Chair 312·894-8232 (h) Oregon State Chair Montana State Chair NatCom Representativ~ Tom Lowy Carol Ann Rand 312-381-1980, x 2316 (o) - 141 E. Sidney Ave. Trish Coffey Larry Dodge' Matt Monroe 5038 Lilburn-Stone Mtn. Rd. Apt. 3A . 160 SW Meadow Dr. Box 60 _ 1213 Hermann Drive Ulburn, GA,30247 .II!IMis State·Cha.ir Mt. Vernon, NY 10550 Beaverton, OR 97006 lrlelmville, MT 59843 Suite 655 .404-925-9572 {h) Lyn D. Tir;~sley 21"2-226·6483 (o) 5037644-D761 (o) · 4Q6-793-5682 (o) 822 Thacker Street Houston, TX 77004 503-644-1423 (h) 406-793-5703 (h) Des Plaines, IL 60016 713-524-0046 (h) REGION 17 F. Craig Spririger. Washington State Chair'f""-.....dj!EGION 7 .. 312·297·8219 (h) 713·524·2919 (o) 1oo Dartmouth Rc TtE as :':. .llwn \)~ ~""'1(: M" • · . Connecticut, Maine, 31W' . - 1'"2.'Z-\ ~.. ansas, 1ssoun, Texas State Chair ?Massachusetts~ New . Raleigh,. NC '.27609 11 1 919·782-65f4 .... ~*"a: we aq12e . Oklahoma Roger V. Gary Hampshire, Rhode Island, 7-23 Aganier . . . :u \5~~ NatCom Representative REGION 10 ·v,~mont REGION 4 ~,:f)- Robert T. Murphy Sari Antonio, TX 78212 Mi~.higan . 512·732-5692 (h) . . NatCom Representative Idaho Wyom·iftii':::; ~ · 2613 Boxwood ...· .. _..;'.'),.~ .:!':...... •Thomas Ross ·. . . .. ' · . , • g.c;l« \ »(.,. Norman; OK 73069 Na(Com Representative Texas Executive Director ;P.p:; Bqx-32-?Q ·. . NatCom R'presentAtive ·· 405·36~·8107 (h) Chad Cdlopy · · Dianne Pilcher'" · -' · - iN.eWH'aven, CT00515. V~t. _!, .c:· •• ~-_:.·. _.-.---~.....;.:...... ;.....;..- ·· 3563 Wat:nut Drive 848Q Frederickstiurg Rd~ : 20:3-389-8209 (h) . . Kansa$ State Ctrair. West .Ellbbmfreld; M1·48o33 Suite 102 · Blak.$ H••b.er 313·38.3~5$08 (h) San Antonio, n< 7.e229 .. __ ··· ·Connecticut State Chair - -P.ottf~~~Z'f ... · · 313·258-46$ (p) .. 512-694-5517-(~b~ :.; _(:,:. ._: ; Wayn~ ·Eiwtling · •423Main.St. · ·.: •tt:. \~:,; .. ' .:~·~~.Qiairl - Norwich; c:r 06306 • - j

---- 16 January/February 1987 Libertarian Party NEWS

would they replace it with-rule by govern­ latter really did break his contract by providing ment? As longas we keep the jury system as the a defective product. The Insurance Crisis? decider of civil and criminal cases, we must not Similarly, if a corporate manager committed hobble its dispensing of justice-especially by -a wrong and damaged the person or property of senseless quantitative caps that simply pro­ By Murray N .. Rothbard panies, like other business firms, are entre­ others, there is no reason but "deep pockets" to claim justice may only be dispensed in small, preneurs. As entrepreneurs, they take risks; make the stockholders pay, provided that the but not adequate, amounts. The latest large-scale assault upon property when they do well and forecast correctly, they latter were innocent and did not order the rights and the free market comes from the properly make profits; when they forecast manager to engage in these wrong actions. insurance industry and its associated incurrers None of this means that tortlawitselfis in no To the- extent, then, that cries about an badly, they make losses. That is the way it need of reform. The problem is not really of liability-particularly groups of manufac­ should be. They should be honored when they insurance crisis reflect an increased propensity turers and the organized medical_ profession. quantitative but qualitative: Who should be by juries to sock it to "soul-less corporations"­ make profits, and suffer the consequences liable for what damages? In particular, we They charge that runaway juries have been when they make losses. In the case of in­ i.e., to the stockholders-then the remedy is to awarding skyrocketing ·increases in liability must put an end to the theory of "vicarious take that right away from them by changing tort surance, companies charge premiums so as to liability"; i.e., that people or groups are liable, payments, thereby threatening to bankrupt the cover, with a profit, the liabilities they expect law to make liable only those actually com­ insurance industry as well as impose higher not because their actions incurred damages, mitting wrongful acts. to pay. If they suffer losses because their entre­ but simply because they happened to be nearby costs upon, or deprive of liability insurance, preneurship is poor, and payments are higher Let liability, in short, be full and complete; those industries and occupations that juries and are conveniently wealthy; i.e., in the apt if butlet it rest only upon those at fault; i.e., those than premiums, they should expect no sym­ inelegant legal phrase, they happily possess have adjudged to be guilty. In response, the pathy, let alone bailout, from the long-suffering actually damaging the persons and property of insurance and allied industries have demanded "deep pockets." Thus, if we bought a product others. consuming and taxpaying public. from a retailer and the product is defective, it is legal caps. or maxima, on jury awards, as well It is particularly outrageous that the in­ Dr. Rothbard, S.J. Hall Distinguished as maximum limits on or even elimination of, the retailer who should be liable and not the Professor of Economics at the University of surance companies are trying to place maxi­ manufacturer, since we did not make a contract legal fees, especially contingency fees paid to mum limits on jury awards and on legal fees. It Nevada, is Vice President for Academic Af­ lawyers by plaintiffs out of their awarded with the manufacturer (unless he placed an fairs of the Ludwig von Mises Institute. The is everyone's right as a free person to hire explicit warranty upon the product). Itis the damages. lawyers for whatever fee they both agree upon, above article is reprinted by permission from Before analyzing these measures, it must be retailer's business to sue the wholesaler, the the Ludwig von Mises Institu•~' '" in and it is no one's right to interfere with private latter the manufacturer, 'etc., provided the pointed out that there may well be no crisis. property and the freedom to make such con­ Economic Policy . Critics of the insurance industry have pointed tracts. Lawyers, after all, are our shield and out that insurance companies have refused to buckler against unjust laws and torts com­ reveal the figures on verdicts and settlements mitted against us, and we must not be deprived _.,:::='====::~'Th~ from year to year, or to break them down by of the right to hire them. Furthermore, the Cultut, industry or occupation. Instead, the insurance much abused contingency fee is actually a .,.._.,,,,,,,::::;:::::=::~- f Fi:\ -· industry has relied solely on colorful anecdotes marvelous instrument which enables the poor­ L6::·:.,,,.,,,,,,,.. _._ o ree(;k. about bizarre individual awards-something est among us to hire able lawyers. And the fact .. :::::::::==::::::::::::::::::::::;;,,,,:::::· . =~;:":~~·;~~~{~ they would scarcely do in running their own that the attorney depends for his fee on his business. Also, the critics have demonstrated "investment" in the case, gives him the in­ CULTURE n 1: CULTIVATION the acfof develo, that average insurance payments have not 2:· centive to fight all the harder on behalf of his the intellectual and moral faculties esp. by e/jucation advanced, in the last 25 years, much beyond clients. Outlawing contingency fees would expert care and training 4: enlightenmeilt and excellence the rate of inflation. So there may well be no leave attorneys only in service to the rich, and insurance crisis at all, and the entire hysteria would deprive the average -person of his day in of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic training 5a: may be trumped-up to gain benefits for the court. Is that what the insurance industry really a particular stage of advancement in civilization b: the insurance industry at the .expense of victims of wants? characteri.stic features of such a stage or state injury to person or property who are entitled to As for jury awards, do the insurance in­ just compensation. dustry and organized medicine really wish to P.O. Box 23108 But let us assume. for the sake of argument destroy the Anglo-American jury system, Seattle, WA 981g9lel~-.. , -!hat the insurance crisisis every bit as dramatic which for. all its faults and inefficiencies, has (206) 937~3+~ as the industry says it is. Why are the rest of us long been a bulwark of our liberties against the supposed to bail them out? Insurance com- State? And if they wish to destroy it, what Libertarian Part-q ::U-...J:::Io .... w Ill ru n(.J-J(JI ::T(.Jn-...J 3 -~!'> OJ::::I...o :1 fl) 0 c..;:1 ::X:: w r-' 0..>- 0 0 ... ~ 3 .:'!' ~-a" LP NATIONAL DIRECTORY Headquarters Staff () 0...... @ s- ~.:1 713-880-1776 "t Nat Com Past Chair l> 01 .... fil • N Gary Edward Johnson Acting National Director IQ n ~-s· Chair Randy T. Ver Hagen fl) X :a. ::s 2001 Parker Lane, #134 0 Jim Turney 2604 S. 62nd St. Terry V. Mitchell fiJ ... -.l ~ z Austin, TX 78741 w::u rt> -.l' II> 824 West Broad Street Milwaukee, WI 53219 512-441-6378 Accounting Operations fiJo .....n 8 =-· Richmond, VA 23220 414-327-5665 {h) David K. Kelley IIJO.. a· 00 me. :::; ~ 804-788-7008 {h/o) :;o Director of Computer rt> -(j Vice-Chair Operations ..0 0 Members At Large Jim Lewis c Sharon A. Ayres Ken Kirchheiner rt> Peter R. Breggin 2 Neponset Avenue 'J)..... § 1773 Bahama Place Old Saybrook, CT 06475 rt> ... Costa Mesa, CA 92626 4628 Chestnut Street Administrative Assistant 0.. it Bethesda, MD 20814 203-388-2046 {h) ~ 714-966-1211 Sharon F. Mitch"ell 301-652-5580 {h/o) Treasurer Stephen Fielder Sam Treynor P.O. Drawer 1760 1724 Pacific Ave. Shepherdstown, WV 25443 Telephone Directory Manhattan Beach, CA 304-263-5440 (h) 713-880-1776-Business number, Na­ 90266 Dale Hemming (/) tional Libertarian Party c: 213-546-2846 {h) 5451 5th St., NE, No. 306 'UO' 1-800-682-1776-LP new member infor­ (DC: 213-518-5770 {o) Fridley, MN 55421 3cr__ OJ 612-572-9137 {h) mation {outside Texas) -:::J Secretary 612-623-6494 { o) Office Hours: 9:30 a.m.-6:00p.m. CST, 1. Dean Ahmad Dave Walter Monday~ Friday 4323 Rosedale Ave. 894 Pine Road 304-263-7526~Libertarian Party NEWS Bethesda, MD 20814 Warminster, flA 18974 adve